Raymond A. DuFour Center

On a crisp autumn afternoon in 1983, Mayor Marion Barry and Catholic University President William J. Byron plunged shovels into the earth. They weren’t just breaking ground. They were launching a new era for Cardinals athletics. This, my friends, is the Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center. The DuFour Center rose from the footprint of the old Brookland Stadium. It’s a 144,000-square-foot testament to Cardinal spirit. Inside these red brick walls, you’ll find more than just a sports center. It’s the vibrant heart of CUA athletics. Twenty-five varsity sports call this place home, along with intramurals, dance, and fitness programs. Imagine the energy within these walls. The thrum of basketballs on Franny Murray Court, the splash of swimmers in the DuFour Center Pool, the clang of weights in the Hanley Family Weight Room. Upstairs, coaches strategize and administrators oversee the complex operations of Cardinal athletics. The DuFour Center isn’t just about competition. It’s about community. It’s where student-athletes train, study, and bond. It’s where alumni return to relive their glory days. It’s a place where the past and the future of CUA athletics converge. That anonymous $2.5 million donation in 2016? It transformed the DuFour Center even further. Five old racquetball courts were reborn as state-of-the-art locker rooms and coaches’ offices. Even the outdoor patio got a facelift, becoming an even better spot for pre-game gatherings and those legendary Cardinal Weekend tent parties. The Raymond A. DuFour Center is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a symbol of Cardinal pride. A place where athletic dreams are nurtured and lifelong memories are made.