Recreation center event setup requires planning, coordination, and operational precision. At Jacksonville State University, the annual Red Tie Gala demonstrates how a recreation facility can transform into a formal banquet venue. Just hours later, the space returns to basketball courts.
On most days, the Recreation and Fitness Center at Jacksonville State University operates as a hub for student wellness and campus engagement. Students move through the building for workouts, intramural sports fill the courts, and the facility supports a steady rhythm of activity that defines campus recreation.
Once each year, however, the building takes on a different role.
The basketball courts become a formal event venue. Dining tables replace athletic equipment. Lighting softens the space while staging and audiovisual screens prepare the room for an evening program. Music from student performers drifts down from the indoor track as guests arrive dressed for a night of celebration and philanthropy.
The occasion is the 1883 Red Tie Dinner and Auction, Jacksonville State University’s signature fundraising event. While guests experience an elegant evening of dining and philanthropy, the seamless atmosphere reflects days of preparation and the coordinated work of teams across campus.
A Fundraising Event That Supports Student Success
The Red Tie Dinner and Auction supports the Jax State 1883 Fund, which provides flexible resources to support the greatest needs of students, faculty, staff, and programs across campus. Unlike designated gifts, the fund allows university leadership to direct resources where they can make the most immediate impact. These investments may support scholarships that reduce financial barriers, strengthen student programs, and advance initiatives that enrich the campus experience.
Since its launch nine years ago, the event has grown steadily in both attendance and philanthropic impact. The most recent gala welcomed approximately 370 guests and raised more than $177,000, marking the most successful year in the event’s history. Strong sponsorship participation and an expanding auction program have helped the event continue to grow each year.
As attendance increased, the university needed a venue capable of accommodating hundreds of guests while still maintaining an inviting and flexible environment. The Recreation and Fitness Center provided both the scale and infrastructure necessary to support an event of this size.
Today, the Recreation and Fitness Center serves as the home of the event, with Director of University Recreation, Dominic DiMauro, and the recreation team overseeing the operational planning required to transform the facility each year.
Transforming a Recreation Center into a Gala Venue
Although the gala itself takes place over a single Friday evening, preparation begins several days in advance.
The process typically starts late Wednesday night after intramural activities conclude. Recreation staff return to the building to begin preparing the basketball courts by installing protective tarps across the playing surface.
By Thursday, tables and chairs are arranged across the courts so that the university’s catering and food service partner, Sodexo, can begin preparing the dining environment. Over the next two days, the athletic space gradually evolves into a formal event setting. Pipe and drape define the layout; staging is installed for the evening program, and lighting adjustments create a more intimate atmosphere within the large open space.
As the event has expanded, additional event areas have been incorporated into the setup. The silent auction now occupies a separate MAC gymnasium, which allows more space for dining and programming in the main event area. This expanded footprint requires careful coordination to ensure the event flows smoothly while maintaining safety and operational standards throughout the building.
Coordinating Campus Operations Behind the Scenes
Hosting a large campus fundraising event requires coordination far beyond the University Recreation Department.
Planning involves collaboration with dining services, capital planning and facilities, audiovisual teams, campus police, university leadership offices, and more. Equipment and resources are often drawn from across campus. Staging, projection screens, sound systems, and podiums are assembled from multiple departments to support the evening’s presentations and auction program.
Within University Recreation, both professional staff and part-time team members support the extensive preparation process. Approximately twenty part-time staff help with setup and logistics, working alongside full-time staff to prepare the building within a compressed timeline.
Because the facility was designed for recreation rather than banquet service, recreation staff also serve as operational experts for the building. Their knowledge of lighting systems, electrical capacity, safety procedures, and facility layout helps guide planning decisions throughout the process. This experience allows campus partners to adapt to the event while protecting the building’s long-term operations.
Managing Operational Challenges in a Multi-Use Facility
Hosting a formal gala inside a recreation facility presents unique logistical considerations.
Food service plans must be reviewed to ensure compatibility with building systems, including fire safety infrastructure. Technical setups involving lighting, projection, and sound equipment must also be evaluated to confirm that the facility can support the necessary power and equipment loads.
Security planning is a key component of the event. When high profile guests attend, campus police may provide additional support for parking management, building access, and safety procedures during the evening program. Additional coordination with campus police may be required to support parking management, building access, and safety procedures during the evening program.
Addressing these challenges requires careful planning and close collaboration between departments. Recreation staff work with campus partners to find solutions that support the event while maintaining safety standards and protecting the integrity of the facility.
Returning the Facility to Student Use
Once the final auction item is sold and guests leave for the evening, the building begins another transition.
Teardown typically begins around 10 p.m., with staff working late into the night to remove staging, tables, equipment, and event materials. The goal is to restore the recreation center as quickly as possible so that students can return to normal activities the following day.
This rapid transition ensures that the facility continues to serve its primary mission. Throughout the academic year, the building supports student wellness, recreation programming, and campus engagement while also contributing to important university initiatives.
Supporting the University Mission Through Campus Partnerships
Over time, the Red Tie Dinner and Auction has become a strong example of campus collaboration. Multiple departments contribute experience, resources, and staff support to deliver an event that brings together alumni, donors, and community partners in support of Jacksonville State University.
Through the partnership with Jacksonville State University, CENTERS manages daily facility operations while also supporting large-scale campus initiatives such as the Red Tie Gala. The event demonstrates how campus recreation facilities can serve multiple roles within the university environment while advancing both student life and institutional priorities.
Dominic DiMauro is Director of University Recreation at Jacksonville State University, where he oversees the Recreation and Fitness Center and all university recreation programs and operations. He helped open the facility in 2019 and has served in multiple leadership roles at JSU, including Associate and Assistant Director. Prior to Jacksonville State, he worked with CENTERS at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, overseeing facility operations and capital improvements. DiMauro holds degrees from The Ohio State University and Georgia State University.