Mission
The mission of Old Dominion University (ODU) Recreation and Wellness is to cultivate a sense of belonging by providing high-quality experiences and spaces to enrich the well-being of the Monarch Community and beyond. The vision is to create an environment where all can be well and thrive.
Facility Descriptions
While ODU Recreation and Wellness manages six campus recreation facilities — one outdoor challenge course, one esports arena, and four fitness and recreation spaces — below are two of the most prominent facilities.
The ODU Student Recreation and Well-Being Center is a 121,000-square-foot comprehensive fitness and wellness facility serving as a central hub for student, employee and alumni health and engagement. Opened in 2009, the building features two levels of fitness floors and a wide range of program and activity spaces.
Amenities include an indoor pool, rock climbing wall, four fitness studios, an elevated indoor track, three basketball courts, three racquetball courts — one converted into a functional training space in 2024 — a multi-activity court, locker rooms and a fitness assessment room. The facility also houses the Outdoor Adventure Center and provides access to an outdoor synthetic turf field.
In 2024, the center expanded to include a dedicated well-being addition, integrating Student Health Services, the Office of Counseling Services, and the Office of Health Promotion alongside a Health Commons designed for special events, workshops and cooking classes. This expansion reflects ODU’s commitment to a holistic, integrated model of student wellness that aligns recreation, health services and education within a single, collaborative environment.
Image courtesy of Old Dominion University
The Monarch Esports Arena is a dedicated, multi-purpose facility offering more than 2,400 square feet of dynamic gaming space designed for competitive and recreational use. Opened in April 2021, the arena serves as the home for ODU’s varsity esports teams and supports a broad range of student engagement opportunities across play styles and skill levels.
Equipped with 50 high-performance gaming computers and console stations, the facility provides students with access to an extensive library of games and technology optimized for both practice and drop-in play. A broadcast and live production suite anchors the space, enabling students and staff to create, stream and produce content for competitive matches and events.
Programming Highlights
Founded in fall 2020, ODU’s esports program features varsity and recreational competitive gaming. The program — managed by ODU Recreation and Wellness and competing under the National Association of Collegiate Esports — offers students opportunities to join varsity teams in popular titles and to engage in gaming, practice and community events.
ODU’s powerlifting competition invites participants to compete in the three major lifts — squat, bench press and deadlift — with three attempts to lift their maximum weight in each category.
Winners are crowned in both male and female divisions, and the event — held in the Student Recreation and Well-Being Center — is designed to welcome lifters of all experience levels in a supportive and inclusive environment, with registration including a competition t-shirt.
The Well-Being Block Party is ODU’s most popular event of the year. The block party — previously named Rec Fest — is a large, free campus welcome event hosted in August at the Student Recreation and Well-Being Center that celebrates student wellness and community with games, fitness activities, free food, giveaways, therapy dogs, inflatables and opportunities to meet sport clubs and try fitness classes. The event is designed to help students relax, connect and explore a variety of wellness-focused experiences as they kick off the semester in a fun, inclusive block-party atmosphere.
In collaboration with ODU’s Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences campus, ODU Recreation and Wellness launched an adaptive aquatics program for children with neurodivergence in fall 2025, supporting inclusive water safety education.
Image courtesy of Old Dominion University
Fun Facts
The 2025-2026 academic year marks 20 years since the opening of ODU Recreation and Wellness’ Outdoor Adventure Program, a student-centered, experience-driven program that has inspired generations of Monarchs to explore the outdoors, push their limits and build lasting friendships.
ODU’s intramural sports program recently saw a 29% increase in unique female participants during the 2024-2025 academic year as a result of intentional efforts to expand women’s participation.
Following a July 2024 merger between ODU and Eastern Virginia Medical School, Recreation and Wellness assumed management of two additional fitness spaces — the Waitzer Hall and Andrews Hall Wellness Centers located on the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences campus. The department ensured consistent staffing, upgraded equipment and integrated these spaces under the Division of Student and Campus Life vision for holistic well-being.
ODU Recreation and Wellness manages the recreational spaces at Whitehurst Beach, a unique space tucked behind one of the university’s residence halls. Whitehurst Beach features two sand volleyball courts, a low-ropes challenge course for team building and leadership development, and frequent dolphin sightings just offshore. With direct, easy access to kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, students can transition from class to the water in minutes.
ODU Rec Well Outdoor Adventure Program has taken students on international trips to destinations like Ireland, Peru, Costa Rica and France.
Social Media Handles
Instagram: @odurecwell
Website: http://odu.edu/recwell
