The GCSU Centennial Center is located within the historic district of Milledgeville and is a cornerstone for the university’s expansion and athletic growth since it was built in October 1989. It was constructed to improve educational opportunities by providing physical education and intercollegiate athletic programs.

The building aims to accommodate the growing needs of GCSU’s student body and athletic programs, as well as provide special services to the university family and its community.  

When Centennial Center was first built its primary use was for sports activities, with limited facilities for events. Now GCSU has built multiple different facilities, including fields, courts, and an athletics performance center. 

“The 95,000 square-foot building was completed to guarantee that the Bobcats would be competing in one of the finest on-campus arenas in the state of Georgia and the southeast,” according to the Ina Dillard Russel Library.

Centennial Center has a seating capacity of about four thousand plus an extra eight hundred on the floor. The gym has fold-out end zones with upper bleachers and three full-sized basketball courts, as well as restrooms, a bathhouse, lockers and showers for athletes to use.

This building has other amenities such as a portable dance floor, five classrooms, two tennis courts and an outdoor pool. The pool is available for public use through the Baldwin County Department of Parks and Recreation with an entry fee, but students can use their Bobcat Card to exempt that fee.

Centennial Center also has a training room and a weight room for the student-athletes to train and progress in their sport.

“I like the training room, I feel like it’s set up very well and allows for multiple people to get help at once and not feel cramped,” said Miranda Hardin, a senior marketing major. “I don’t like the weight room, but that could be more personal. I just wish it wasn’t so bland, but at the same time it’s a weight room so it doesn’t have to be fun.”.

GCSU mainly holds sports like women’s and men’s basketball, as well as women’s volleyball in the Centennial Center but they also hold concerts and conferences for the students and families of GCSU. 

Although there have been many updates to the Centennial Center since its construction some students and athletes think that there still needs to be some improvements and updates to the building.

“I think it almost has everything it needs for athletes,” said Finley Burns, a sophomore finance major. “One thing I wish it had is a nutrition bar because when we have practices or weights right before classes it is hard to find time to eat. This would be great for athletes because we could grab something and go while also meeting our nutrition goals.”

The Centennial Center serves as a central hub for important academic events throughout the year. Twice annually, in both the winter and spring seasons, the Center acts as a venue for the university’s Commencement Ceremonies, marking the culmination of academic achievement for graduating students. 

Additionally, the Centennial Center facilitates the Career and Graduate School Fair, an event that connects GCSU students with potential employers, internship providers, and representatives from graduate school programs. 

The Centennial Center is an exceptional facility that caters to the diverse needs of students and student-athletes. It provides a top-tier training environment where student-athletes can hone their skills and prepare for upcoming competitions.

Serving as a fantastic venue for hosting home games against other schools, fostering a sense of community and school spirit and creating a central arena for GCSU to host all kinds of large-scale events, the Centennial Center is a quintessential landmark for GC Athletics, and the student body as a whole.