2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Greensboro Aquatic Center , a state-of-the-art, 78,323 square-foot indoor swimming facility, with seating capacity of 1,850 and total capacity of 2,500 has been in operation since September 2011. Built at a cost of $19 million in 2011, the GAC features leading edge concepts in aquatic design. The GAC brings together all major aquatic sports - competitive
swimming and diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and other unique sports all in one venue. The GAC has provided Greensboro the opportunity to host high school and collegiate events, USA swimming meets, Master’s swimming and U.S. Water Polo events as well as many local, regional, national and international competitions. The GAC hosted the 2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, 2016, 2019 and 2020 Division III Women’s & Men’s Championships, and 2021 NCAA Division I Championships. The 2022 NCAA Division II Championships and 2023-2025 NCAA Division III Championships will also be hosted at the GAC. Along with hosting NCAA Championships, the Aquatic Center also hosts numerous regional, state and national competitions. The GAC currently has nine future championship events scheduled from mid-2021 through 2025. With the increase in demand, the GAC completed a fourth pool in September 2019, housed in a 27,600-square-foot building attached to the existing GAC by a breezeway corridor. The $8.3 million project, funded by hotel occupancy tax revenue, provides 19 additional lanes making the Greensboro Aquatic Center one of the top aquatic venues in the nation. The Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has projected the economic impact of GAC events at more than $180 million over its first 10 years of operation. In October 2016, The Fieldhouse was completed and is home to the NBA Charlotte Hornets G-League team affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. The 30,000-square-foot, column-free facility seats over 2,100 fans and houses the team’s training facility, equipment room, basketball operations, merchandise stand, concessions, VIP area and kid zone. In addition to 24 annual Swarm home basketball games, The Fieldhouse also hosts other sporting events including roller derby, boxing, gymnastics and wrestling, as well as meetings, tradeshows, graduation ceremonies and concerts. The White Oak Amphitheatre is located on the southern end of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex campus. The Amphitheatre features outdoor seating capacity of 7,061, including more than 2,000 reserved seats and general admission lawn seating for more than 5,600 patrons. This facility hosts a diverse selection of community events, music, arts and crafts and festival type events. The venue also supports entertainment at the annual Central Carolina Fair. The name White Oak was selected in honor of the City of Greensboro’s “official” tree and a grove of white oaks surround the venue’s seating area. The traditional amphitheater season is a six-month schedule of events running from May through October. The ACC Hall of Champions opened in 2011 and honors the league’s schools, athletes and coaches with displays of sports memorabilia and interactive games to celebrate the storied history of the ACC conference. Funding of the $2.3 million project was provided by the State of North Carolina for tourism and economic development activities. The ACC Hall of Champions strengthens the bond between Greensboro and the ACC, enhancing Greensboro’s efforts to secure future tournament dates. Greensboro was selected from among thirty-two applications to host the annual National Folk Festival from 2015 to 2017. The free, three-day outdoor event attracted roughly 400,000 visitors over its three-year run, generating an economic impact between $12 to $15 million per year, based on audience surveys and other data. The 2017 event drew more than 162,000 attendees, an increase of 58% from 2015. The legacy festival included over 30 acts of music, dance, and other events at seven locations across downtown Greensboro. The event also utilized the LeBauer Park, located across from the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, as one of the
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