James Madison Dukes at Appalachian State Mountaineers Mens Basketball George M. Holmes Convocation Center Boone

George M. Holmes Convocation Center is a multipurpose arena that is located in Boone, North Carolina. The arena is usually referred to as the Holmes Center or The Holmes Dome. It has a seating capacity of 8,325. Situated on the campus of Appalachian State University, the venue broke ground on December 5, 1997. It opened for the local public on September 6, 2000, with a $29 million construction cost. Corley Redfoot Zack, Inc. did the building’s architecture while owned and operated by Appalachian State University.

The George M. Holmes Convocation Center is named after George M. Holmes, a 1954 graduate, and member of the North Carolina General Assembly. The arena serves as a home field to the Appalachian State Mountaineers men’s and women’s basketball teams. High Country Grizzlies (NAL/AAL) are the former tenants that played at the arena from 2017 to 2018. The inaugural event held at the convention center was a men’s basketball game on November 17, 2000.

The George M. Holmes Convocation Center replaced Varsity Gymnasium to provide facilities for the Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science. The arena also supports university-sponsored events, including college fairs and commencement. Apart from these, concerts, trade shows, athletic events, cultural events, and many other public assembly activities are also a part of the venue’s programming.