The John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center and Gilbert Craig Gore Arena is the home of Campbell basketball, volleyball and wrestling.
Dedicated on Oct. 17, 2008 and hosting its inaugural basketball games on Nov. 15, 2008, the 109,000 square-foot-building ranks among the finest facilities in the Coastal Athletic Association and the state of North Carolina.
The $34 million project includes 3,095 (all chair back) seats for basketball games at Gilbert Craig Gore Arena, in addition to a 1,200-square foot Presidential hospitality suite. Fans in attendance not only experience the excitement of college athletics, but are also entertained by state-of-the-art lighting, scoreboard, video and audio systems. For Convocation or graduation, the building will hold up to 4,000.
Through 12 seasons, the Fighting Camels have truly enjoyed a home court advantage in Gore Arena. Campbell's men own a 118-68 won-lost record (.634) on their home floor. The 2011-12 squad won 11 of 13 games at the site, the 2017-18 team won nine of its last 10 at home and the 2018-19 unit finished with a 12-4 record at the site.
Since moving into Gore Arena in the 2008-09 season, the Campbell women's basketball squad has posted the top-10 single-game home attendance figures in program history. In December 2010, a sellout crowd of 3,095 witnessed Campbell's victory over NC Central.
The Campbell women have made two post-season appearances in the WBI since 2017, reaching the semifinal round in 2019. The 2019 team also posted 23 wins, matching a single-season school record set by the 1987-88 squad. The 2019-20 squad finished 21-8 and won the Big South regular season title with a 16-4 mark.
Campbell volleyball went 10-2 inside Gore Arena in 2017 and increased its win totals in Big South Conference play each season from 2013-17. The 2015 and 2019 squads made runs to the Big South Championship match.
Campbell hosted the 2016 Big South Conference men's basketball championship and the 2019 quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. With a total attendance of 11,649 fans over five sessions, the 2016 Championship was the highest attended men's tournament since CU re-joined the Big South in 2011-12. An average of 2330 fans attended each session, with 2991 – the sixth-largest crowd in Gore Arena history – witnessing Campbell's first-round game vs. Gardner-Webb.  A total of 6138 fans attended the quarterfinal and semifinal sessions in the 2019 Championship.
In preparation for the 2016 Big South Championship, Gore Arena underwent major facilities upgrades, including the installation of a new four-sided, center-hung LED display scoreboard and video board, plus eight new LED courtside tables, four on each sideline. In addition, a new paint scheme was applied throughout the building with new graphic images and new Spalding basket supports were added.
A new floor was installed during the summer of 2020, complete with a redesigned Camel logo within the outline of the State of North Carolina.
Four of the top 10 crowds to jam the arena came during the 2018-19 season as the Fighting Camels won the Big South regular season title and Chris Clemons led the country in scoring. A record 3,351 fans were on hand for Clemons' senior day, Mar. 2, 2019, when the Camels defeated Radford to secure the right to host the league quarterfinals and semis. That day's attendance broke the previous record of 3,220 set on Feb. 1, 2014 when CU hosted a nationally-televised game for the first time. ESPNU aired Campbell's game against eventual Big South champ Coastal Carolina as its Big South Wildcard Selection broadcast.
CU made history on Nov. 23, 2009 when the Camels hosted an Atlantic Coast Conference school in men's basketball for the first time on the senior college level. A standing-room only audience of 3205 watched CU hang tough with the Hokies, and even led midway through the second half before dropping a 71-60 decision
Locker rooms for the Campbell University men's and women's basketball teams each measure 1,400 square feet and include separate lounge/video review areas and coaches dressing rooms.Â
Dressing rooms are also provided for Campbell's volleyball and wrestling programs, as well as game officials and visiting teams.Â
The facility saw another major addition in 2018, with the expansion of the wrestling center, more than tripling mat space, while also expanding the Camels' locker room and workout areas, and providing other amenities. The wrestling program now benefits from the use of a 7,000 square foot training area, which more than accommodates three regulation mats, plus cardio, strength and lounge facilities.
The building includes a 3,000-square foot weight room devoted to Campbell University athletes. Additionally, Campbell's basketball and volleyball programs also have the ability to work out at the same time, thanks to the 6,800 square foot Fred McCall practice gymnasium, which is located just a few paces from the men's basketball locker room.
The facility is a center of activity for student recreation and wellness, plus athletics practice and competition. It also houses 2,800 square feet devoted to the University's exercise science major.
