The Prince William County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to make a key decision Tuesday that could determine the fate of a planned multimillion-dollar indoor athletic facility.
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The Prince William County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to make a key decision Tuesday that could determine the fate of a planned multimillion-dollar indoor athletic facility.
The board has until May 20 to purchase the $15 million Woodbridge property, which is under contract with the county as a national destination for sports and other types of events, as well as a local hub for use by athletic athletes. It is necessary to decide whether to make a final decision. organization.
Prince William County Parks and Recreation Director Seth Hendler-Vos, who is leading the project, said Friday that the land will close next month unless the board takes action to terminate the agreement.
Hendler-Boss said if the board refuses to buy the land, the proposal itself would almost certainly be invalidated. It's unclear whether the board has the support it needs for the sportsplex, as there are many concerns about the project's high price tag of $140 million. However, there may still be an appetite to purchase land for potential alternative uses.
Board President Deshundra Jefferson, the only Democrat who is skeptical of the sportsplex proposal and could be a key swing vote, said in an interview Friday that the site could still be used by the county for other purposes. Therefore, he said that he is likely to support the land purchase. Mr. Jefferson said he is “not at liberty” to reveal other possible uses for the land that are under discussion among county officials.
The board's other seven members did not respond to requests for comment on whether they support land acquisition, but the Democratic majority has largely supported the sportsplex push.
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.
Republicans and Mr. Jefferson have expressed concerns about the cost of the project. Most other Democrats say the facility will be a boon to the growing community and give young athletes a state-of-the-art facility to train and compete close to home. They also touted the facility as a potential driver of economic activity. surrounding area.
Gainesville Republican Supervisor Bob Weir, who opposes the plan, has said multiple times in recent weeks that the board lacks the support needed for the project.
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, 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 for further sale negotiations with Verno LLC, the current property owner of the Telegraph Road site.
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. .
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.
