Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 10/07/2026 04:38:00

Norfolk Scope is a multi-function complex in Norfolk, Virginia, comprising the 11,000-seat Scope Arena, the adjacent 2,500-seat Chrysler Hall theatre, a 65,000-square-foot modular exhibition hall, and a 640-car parking garage. Opened on November 12, 1971, the arena was designed by the celebrated Italian engineer and architect Pier Luigi Nervi alongside local firm Williams and Tazewell. Its reinforced thin-shell concrete dome remains the largest of its kind in the world, with 24 flying buttresses creating one of the most architecturally iconic sports and entertainment venues in the United States. The name Scope is a shortened form of kaleidoscope, reflecting both the venue's visually striking architecture and the versatility of the multi-purpose facility. The arena's seating can be reconfigured from 8,701 for ice hockey up to 10,253 for basketball and 13,800 for concerts. The venue has been home to the Norfolk Admirals hockey team, in one form or another, since 1989. The Admirals were a flagship franchise of the ECHL, winning three championship titles before moving to the AHL in 2000 and capturing the Calder Cup in the 2011-12 season with a record-breaking 28-game win streak. After the AHL franchise relocated, a new ECHL iteration returned in 2015. Throughout its history, Scope Arena has hosted approximately 3,876 events and welcomed over 17.5 million patrons. The venue has presented concerts by Elvis Presley, John Denver, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, and Marvin Gaye, as well as numerous professional wrestling events including WCW Starrcade pay-per-views. The MEAC men's and women's basketball conference championship tournaments have been held there since 2013. Built at a cost of thirty-five million dollars, the facility has received over fourteen million in upgrades since 2003, including a sound system upgrade, rigging grid renovation, new LED lighting, and scoreboard replacement. Located at 201 East Brambleton Avenue, Scope Arena has served as a cornerstone of Norfolk's civic identity for over five decades.