A plan to build a $100 million-plus indoor athletic facility in Prince William County faces a precarious future as a majority of elected officials do not appear to be able to unite behind the plan.
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A plan to build a $100 million-plus indoor athletic facility in Prince William County faces a precarious future as a majority of elected officials do not appear to be able to unite behind the plan.
The County Board of Supervisors has authorized staff to complete the $15 million Woodbridge property purchase currently under contract with the county. The main proposal for the facility was to be a national destination for sporting and other types of events, as well as a local base for use by sporting organizations.
But the project's $140 million price tag raises many concerns, and it's unclear whether the board has the support needed to approve the sportsplex. Board President Deshundra Jefferson, the lone skeptic of the proposal and a Democrat likely to swing the vote, said at Tuesday's board meeting that she does not support the project in its current form. Republicans have similarly expressed reservations about the plan.
“Despite the predictions and everything we've provided, I still have doubts,” Jefferson said. “I mean, how many of these projects are actually generating revenue? And we're making a lot of public investment using people's tax dollars…to do this in our county. I understand and respect what families want, but I don't support this. I don't have a vote on this project that's going on right now.”
The board's Democratic majority has largely supported sportsplex development. They say this will be a boon to the growing community and provide youth athletes with a state-of-the-art facility close to home where they can train and compete. It also touts it as a potential driver of economic activity in the surrounding area. .
But without support from Mr. Jefferson and Republicans, Democrats will not have the majority needed to approve the plan.
Still, because the site could still be used by the county for other purposes, Ms. Jefferson ultimately joined members of her party in supporting the land purchase. Mr. Jefferson said last week that he is “not at liberty” to reveal other potential uses for the land that are under discussion among county officials.
Republicans including Coles Supervisor Yesli Vega, Gainesville Supervisor Bob Weir, and Brentsville Supervisor Tom Gowdy opposed the land purchase.
The multi-purpose facility, which could be the largest of its kind in the Washington area, is planned at 13505 Telegraph Road along Interstate 95, and officials from all over the East Coast will be hosting large-scale events. It is said that it is ideal for attracting customers. The facility will feature a hydraulic running track and hard courts used for basketball, pickleball, and space for conventions and other events.
Consultants hired by the county predict that if the facility is approved, the county will receive more than $400,000 in revenue by its third year of use, with modest increases in subsequent years. It is expected that this will happen. However, this projection does not take into account the debt service costs the county is expected to pay, meaning the facility will operate at a loss for the first two years of operation at taxpayer expense.
The board has so far spent $1 million to allow recreation officials to begin discussions with multiple contractors to flesh out the proposal. It is also considered that an agreement has been reached with Verno LLC, the current property owner of the Telegraph Road site, for further sale negotiations.
Prince William County Parks and Recreation Director Seth Hendler Vos, who led the proposal, said Friday that the land purchase will be completed next month.
Officials suggested the facility's closest major competitors would be a similar facility in Virginia Beach and Spooky Nook Sports, the nation's largest indoor sports facility outside Lancaster, Pennsylvania. . The Virginia Beach facility was recently revealed to be facing millions of dollars in debt. Virginia Beach officials then transferred the city property to the buyer.
Proponents of the project, including Prince William Economic Development Director Christina Wynn, say the project will be an important part of the county's sports tourism and a catalyst for further development in the area. Wynn said additional hotel development is being prepared in the surrounding area to serve the sports complex's anticipated 60,000-plus annual visitors.
Officials say they expect a surge in sports tourism as parents travel to their children's sporting events and spend money on meals and merchandise while staying nearby, sometimes for several days, and will also boost the county's small businesses. He says it will be connected.
The county has held multiple town hall-style meetings to solicit input from residents on the proposal. Its supporters include high school athletes, Olympic gold medalists in track and field, local coaches, sports league organizers, members of the pickleball community, and more. Several public school student-athletes, coaches and parents say they endure long trips to attend track and field events because there are no nearby facilities.
County commissioners considered an indoor sports complex as part of a parks bond referendum program in 2019, but the proposal ultimately died due to cost concerns.
