The University of Delaware's David M. Nelson Athletic Complex, is a premier multi-purpose event destination that extends far beyond collegiate sports. With versatile indoor arenas, massive outdoor stadiums, and abundant parking, the facilities are expertly designed to host large-scale convention-style events, trade shows, consumer expos, and public fairs.
The Bob Carpenter Center is the complex's primary Sports/Convocation Center, offering adaptable indoor space perfect for large exhibitions and consumer-facing shows.
Venue Versatility: The building features the 5,000-seat Acierno Arena, which can be quickly converted to an open exhibition floor. It also boasts a 45,000-square-foot addition, including two full-sized practice gymnasiums, which provide excellent overflow space for concurrent sessions, staging, or vendor booths.
Convention-Ready Features: Wide concourse areas and the glass-walled Bob Carpenter Club reception lounge are ideal for registration, breakout sessions, VIP hosting, and catering.
Ideal Events: This venue has successfully hosted large indoor events like BVSPC Mega Pet Adoption, Sports Memorabilia and Card Shows, Consignment Sales, and the indoor portions of Construction Expos that require protected space for vendors and demos.
