First national event booked for new Henrico Sports and Event Center

It's not finished yet, but Henrico officials already have booked the first national sports event for the Henrico Sports and Event Center in Glen Allen.

The facility, due to be completed this September, will host the 2024 Adult and Junior Division Wheelchair Basketball national tournaments April 5-7 and April 12-14, 2024. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Sportable, Richmond Region Tourism, and the Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority made the announcement Thursday.

"We are thrilled to announce that Junior & Adult Wheelchair Basketball Championships will be held in Richmond, VA in 2024," said Matt Pierre, a member of the NWBA Board of Directors. "The team in Richmond – Richmond Region Tourism, Sportable, and the Henrico Sports Authority – put together an impressive bid, and are committed to elevating our championship events to the next level. We are excited for this opportunity, and believe our members will love the experience that will be offered."

The top 32 ranked wheelchair basketball teams for varsity level and the top 16 ranked teams from prep level will earn an invitation to participate in the NWBA Varsity and Prep Wheelchair Basketball National Championships April 5-7, while the the top 16 ranked teams for each adult division (I, II, III) will earn an invitation to their respective divisions’ national tournament April 12-14.

In total, 96 teams and more than 1,100 wheelchair basketball players will compete for a national title during the two events.

Sportable’s Division II wheelchair team, the Rim Riders, is currently ranked 14th nationally and will compete in this year’s championship tournament March 31-April 2 in Wichita, Kansas.

“We are grateful for the support of the NWBA, Richmond Region Tourism, and Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority to bring the 2024 Wheelchair Basketball National Championships to Richmond,” said Sportable Executive Director Hunter Leemon. “We have the infrastructure in place to execute a world class event, and we are confident that our community will embrace the NWBA – athletes, families, staff, volunteers, and supporters – and create the best championship experience possible.”

The Henrico Sports and Event Center will feature 185,000 square feet of space, with more than 115,000 of that being adaptable space.

“We’re very excited to welcome the NWBA and its athletes to our new indoor sports and events center,” said Dennis Bickmeier, executive director of the Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority, which manages the facility and other public/private facilities owned by the county.  “This tournament will be a signature event in the early history of the facility. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver this showcase event to our community and witnessing the athleticism and teamwork that will happen over the two weeks of competition.”