NORFOLK, Va. – More than two months after joining the Sun Belt Conference, Old Dominion hosts its first conference home games this week.
And while Saturday's football game with Arkansas State will draw the most attention, it's one of just five Sun Belt home games or matches.
Every contest will have a focus on family or the Hampton Roads community.
ODU's volleyball team gets things started Thursday and Friday nights when the Monarchs host Marshall, who, like the Monarchs, moved up from Conference USA to the Sun Belt this summer.
Both matches begin at 6:30. Friday's match is a designated Gold Game and Youth Day. All youth players who show up in a jersey will be admitted free.
You may also gain free admission to purchasing a toy for children who are patients at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. For a list of approved toys, click here.
Saturday's football game, which begins at 6 p.m., is the annual Family Weekend game, when families of students are invited to attend.
Discount tickets are available and there is a special pregame tailgate for families and students. For more information, Click Here.
Sun Belt games continue Sunday with a men's and women's soccer doubleheader.
The men face off against James Madison at 12:30 and the women host Georgia Southern at 3:30.
The men's game is a "Pack the Park" contest and admission is free. You will need a ticket to enter the ODU Soccer Complex beginning at 2:30.
The women's soccer match is also designated a Gold Game, meaning you can gain free admission by purchasing a gift for a CHKD patient.
A limited number of free t-shirts celebrating the first Sun Belt home games will be available during Thursday's volleyball match and the football and soccer games.
ODU re-joined the Sun Belt after 10 years in Conference USA. ODU enjoyed much success as a member of the Sun Belt from 1982-83 through 1990-91.
The league is geographically more compact than Conference USA and includes more natural rivals, including JMU, Marshall, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina.
The Sun Belt Conference's football East Division is the preeminent in the Group of 5, with four wins over Power 5 teams just three weeks into the season, including ODU's 20-17 upset of Virginia Tech in the Monarchs' home opener.
It is also one of the nation's best baseball leagues, with five current members having participated in last season's NCAA Tournament. ODU was among the last schools left out of the field of 64.
With 2020 national champion Marshall, and SEC members Kentucky, South Carolina and West Virginia from the Big 12 as affiliate members, Sun Belt men's soccer is among the best in the nation. Central Florida joins next season as an affiliate member.
The Sun Belt also gives ODU basketball fans a more convenient and inviting place to watch the Monarchs compete in the conference tournament. Both tournaments are held in Pensacola, Florida.
A school-by-school look at the Sun Belt:
EAST DIVISION
Appalachian State University
Location: Boone, N.C.
Enrollment: 20,641
Nickname: Mountaineers
Distance from Norfolk: 350 miles, 5:39 driving time.
Website: https://appstatesports.com
Football Stadium: Kidd Brewer Stadium (30,000)
Basketball Arena: Holmes Arena (8,325)
Coastal Carolina University
Location: Conway, South Carolina
Enrollment: 10,118
Nickname: Chanticleers
Distance from Norfolk: 326 miles or 5:16 driving time
Website: https://goccusports.com
Football Stadium: Brooks Stadium (20,000)
Basketball Arena: HTC Center (3,212)
Georgia Southern University
Location: Statesboro, Georgia
Enrollment: 20,949
Nickname: Eagles
Distance from Norfolk: 500 miles, or 7:52 driving time
Website: https://gseagles.com
Football Stadium: Allen E. Paulson (25,000)
Basketball Arena: Hanner Fieldhouse (4,325)
James Madison University
Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Enrollment: 21,496
Nickname: Dukes
Distance from Norfolk: 224 miles or 3:34 driving time
Website: https://jmusports.com
Football Stadium: Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field (24,877)
Basketball Arena: Atlantic Union Bank Center (8,500)
Georgia State University
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Enrollment: 54,000 (six campuses in Atlanta)
Nickname: Panthers
Distance from Norfolk: 600 miles or 8:53 driving time
Website: https://georgiastatesports.com
Football Stadium: Center Parc Stadium (22,000)
Basketball Arena: Georgia State Convocation Center (7,300)
Marshall University
Location: Huntington, West Virginia
Enrollment: 13,321
Nickname: Thundering Herd
Distance from Norfolk: 460 miles or 7:20 driving time
Website: https://herdzone.com
Football Stadium: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,227)
Basketball Arena: Cam Henderson Center (9,052)
Old Dominion University
Location: Norfolk, Va.
Enrollment: 24,828
Nickname: Monarchs
Website: https://odusports.com
Football Stadium: Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium (21,944)
Basketball Arena: Chartway Arena (8,500)
WEST DIVISION
Arkansas State
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Enrollment: 14,085
Nickname: Red Wolves
Distance from Norfolk: 990 miles, 15 hours driving time.
Website: https://astateredwolves.com
Football Stadium: Centennial Bank Stadium (30, 964)
Basketball Arena: First National Bank Arena (10,475)
Louisiana
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Enrollment: 14,425
Nickname: Rajin Cajuns
Distance from Norfolk: 1,175 miles, 17:26 driving time.
Website: https://ragincajuns.com
Football Stadium: Cajun Field (36,900)
Basketball Arena: Cajundome Arena and Convocation Center (10,475)
Louisiana-Monroe
Location: Monroe, Louisiana
Enrollment: 14,425
Nickname: Warhawks
Distance from Norfolk: 1,095 miles, 16:09 driving time.
Website: https://ulmwarhawks.com
Football Stadium: Malone Stadium (30,427)
Basketball Arena: Fant-Ewing Coliseum (7,085)
South Alabama
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Enrollment: 38,808
Nickname: Jaguars
Distance from Norfolk: 920 miles, 13:40 driving time.
Website: https://usajaguars.com
Football Stadium: Hancock Whitney Stadium (25,450)
Basketball Arena: Mitchell Center (10,041)
Southern Mississippi
Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Enrollment: 14,606
Nickname: Golden Eagles
Distance from Norfolk: 975 miles, 14:25 driving time.
Website: https://southernmiss.com/splash.aspx?id=splash_4
Football Stadium: Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Robert Stadium (36,000)
Basketball Arena: Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)
Texas State
Location: San Marcos, Texas
Enrollment: 38,808
Nickname: Bobcats
Distance from Norfolk: 1,600 miles, 23:10 driving time.
Website: https://txstatebobcats.com/search_splash.aspx
Football Stadium: Bobcat Stadium (30,000)
Basketball Arena: Strahan Arena at the University Events Center (10,000)
Troy University
Location: Troy, Alabama
Enrollment: 17,106
Nickname: Trojans
Distance from Norfolk: 770 miles, 11:50 driving time
Website: https://troytrojans.com
Football Stadium: Veterans Memorial Stadium (30,402)
Basketball Arena: Troy Arena (6,000)
Minium: ODU hosts First Sun Belt Contests This Week, Including Football Game Saturday
