VIRGINIA BEACH
The Washington Redskins could be calling Virginia Beach their summer home as soon as 2009.
Redskins officials are in preliminary talks with city staff to move the team’s training camp to the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in a deal that would bring professional football players, coaches and their legion of fans to the region each summer.
The discussions are still nascent, and officials from both the city and the NFL-playoffs bound Redskins have tried to keep them quiet.
But Beach officials said the Redskins are asking the city to pony up about $2.5 million, including infrastructure improvements to the Sportsplex, in exchange for moving the team’s training camp from Ashburn, just outside of Washington, D.C. to Virginia Beach.
The improvements would include weight training facilities and an additional practice field, those close to the negotiations said.
If both sides come to an agreement, the move wouldn’t occur until at least 2009, officials said.
The potential Redskins deal comes as city officials are working on a separate proposal from a handful of professional baseball players from Hampton Roads who want to build a baseball clinic and sports training facility near the Sportsplex.
City council members and local business leaders acknowledged that having a major sports team like the Redskins headline the Sportsplex would be a marketing boost and would put a national spotlight on the Beach. It would also help rescue the Sportsplex, which lost its main tenant, the minor league soccer team the Virginia Beach Mariners, last year.
City officials are reviewing two other plans for the land adjacent to the Sportsplex.
“Most people associate major league sports with major league cities,” said Martha McClees, executive director of Virginia Beach Vision, an organization of business and civic leaders.
Karl Swanson, a spokesman for the Redskins, declined to comment on any move to Virginia Beach.
But Swanson said that every year the Redskins field requests from communities to host the training camp.
Since 2003, Redskins players have spent several weeks between July and August training at Redskins Park, the team’s year-round practice field and headquarters in Ashburn. The players stay at the National Conference Center, and are bused six miles to practice at the Park.
Several of the practice sessions are open to the public, and players stick around after to sign autographs and talk to fans.
The benefit of holding camp in Ashburn has always been the convenience of using the team’s own facilities.
But it wasn’t always that way.
For most of the last 45 years, the team, its coaches, doctors, and fans trekked to Carlisle, Pa. and Frostburg, Md. for their summer training.
Beach officials said the Redskins management is once again looking for some seclusion, so players can focus and practice drills and their moves without the distraction of being so close to home.
Negotiations to move the training camp to Virginia Beach rose out of the city’s existing relationship with the team through the Redskins Beach Blitz.
The annual event, which will be in its third year this May, draws about 7,000 Redskins fans to the Virginia Beach Convention Center, said Jim Ricketts, director of the city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau. Ricketts is handling the negotiations with the Redskins.
“We, as a city, value our relationship with the Washington Redskins, we’re open to ways to strengthen that relationship,” Ricketts said.
But some Beach Council members are concerned that the training camp may come at too high a price, especially when the city is facing an estimated $50 million shortfall in fiscal 2009.
“The attraction and lure of having the Redskins here is certainly interesting,” said City Councilman Harry Diezel. “I thought it was a good idea. And if the Redskins want to do it, they’re well-heeled enough to do it.”
The City Council was briefed in closed session about the proposal last month and asked staff to get more information and try to reduce the cost to taxpayers. The camp is also in the middle of the summer, when the city is flush with tourists and hotel rooms, especially at the Oceanfront, are booked.
In fact, officials have talked about housing the Redskins’ players at Founder’s Inn, located on the grounds of Regent University, near the border with Chesapeake.
But City Councilman Ron Villaneuva said the Redskins camp could be an additional amenity for tourists who visit Virginia Beach in the summer.
“It’s another attraction,” Villanueva said. “And you get people venturing outside the Oceanfront.”
Councilman Jim Wood said he would like to see local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce pitch in to bring the Redskins to the Beach.
“I think it certainly bears further investigating,” Wood said. “But we really need to have the private sector participate to offset the costs.”
With the increasing popularity of pre-season camps, the region stands to gain if the Redskins come to the Sportsplex, said James Koch, an economic professor at Old Dominion University and its former president.
“If we don’t have to spend a lot, lot, lot of money, it’s quite possible it could be a good investment,” Koch said. “Preseason camps bring in people from different locations....It’s something that has become more and more important to the sports fan.”
Staff writer Jim Ducibella contributed to this report.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Shortsided Thinking
Knee-jerk reactions do nothing but insight more of the same. I don't like the idea of paying more taxes either, but if our city leaders spend some time planning a long-term agreement that makes the initial investment give us a good return, then it is well worth the money. Pro team summer camps bring thousands of fans who spend hundreds of thousands in our area. I spent several seasons with the Skins going to Carlisle and I can assure you, they would love to have them back there. It will be a big boost to the economy here and might even introduce Va beach as a new vacation spot for some people who hadn't previously given us a thought. Let's focus on the big picture....
No Brainer
Please...
A 2.5 million investment in upgrades is a drop in the bucket considering the probable return. The city could recoup that in three years with revenue for parking and concessions alone. Don't believe me? Well then, call the city manager of Latrobe Pennsylvania, and ask him how much revenue The Steelers bring into their little town.
Training camps natiowide are well on the way to becoming tourist destinations on their own. Putting one in our city in the summer will only enhance the Beach's status as a lock in, for vacationers from the belt-way!
Partnered with the proposed workout facility for the baseball players, it could finally be that the once promised utopia for the Sportspex is on the horizon. I love the idea, and I don't even like the Redskins!
Featured Comment
Mr. Epesola, who the Pilot quoted in their Featured Comment section is all for the Virginia Beach Taxpayers footing the Bill for his PigSkin Dreams. He lives in Norfolk. Feature that Comment.
No Way!
As it states, by 2009 the city will already be in the red by $50 million. Stop spending for tourist and business expansion for once and concentrate on taking care of the citizens of our own city.
We have potholes, and no bike lanes. Better community parks and neighbornoods with sidewalks.
How about making Virginia Beach more friendly year-round for the ones who already live here instead of just a cash cow for the special interest groups.
Wait!!!!
As soon as the football team team hears the jets fly over good buy Virginia Beach they wont be able to hear there own plays called!!!!
REDSKINS
let's see spend money for a team that will come in for about 30 days each summer. go for it va.beach. 2.5 million you know it's going to be higher than that. we in your surrounding cities try to work for the good of the region. but you always want it to be about you the spotlight. instead you should change your name to the " me city"
What are they thinking?
Just what we need. A lousy team full of overpaid football players. Much more traffic, more tourists, more taxes...all things we already have enough of. I for one, don't think my hard earned tax money should be spent on these little pet projects the city has going on. Just as paying for all the lazy lowlifes who pop out eight kids and refuse to work (expecting others to support them)...my tax money going for entertainment is just ridiculous. Taxes are suppose to keep the city, state, and country running...not to pay for entertainment. And my take on that probably ticks several of you off. Pay for your own entertainment morons. The city needs and hopefully will be smacked back into reality one day soon. With all this "growth" going on in VB, I hope everyone of you are ready for higher taxes, higher cost of living, worsening traffic/roads, more crime...and so on. You can all take responsibility for what is to come.
Fix the parking lots
Maybe now the city will get the parking lots paved. During inclement weather both at the SPORTSPLEX and Amphitheater, , the parking have been dirt and stone since the inception. Glad to see someone come to the city for the facilities, but have they checked out the poor traffic access and the nearest location for hotels/motels. I hope the city does not blow it.
City Council's Fantasy Football
My initial reaction was one of excitement! However, as I read further and realized that city council wants to place the 2.5 million dollar burden on the taxpayers and private sector, common sense quickly settled in as I could see this is just another VB pet project. Wake up VB, the Redskins are one of the most lucrative franchises in professional sports! Mr. Snyder has very deep pockets and could easily find a way to pay for the necessary infrastructure improvements. I am curious to know whether loyal fans would be gouged 10 or 20 dollars to park their car at the Sportsplex, like Mr. Snyder charges at FedEx field??
The region will gain...really?
Only if it brings to the area more tourists above and beyond those who already come here without the camp. Of course this is unlikely since “The camp is also in the middle of the summer, when the city is flush with tourists and hotel rooms, especially at the Oceanfront, are booked. “ If hotel bookings for all these fans just displace other tourists who planned to come to the area then there is no net gain. Maybe the city hopes that training camp fans spend more money while in the area than regular summer tourists...it’s certainly possible...but so much so that it’s worth the city investing $2.5 m....?
Of course, the other proposed benefit is the marketing effect in terms of popularity of the city...in which case, I'm with BobbyV on this one.
OMG!
I can only hope this will come about. I am a diehard Skins fan and would be thrilled to have training camp here!! I can't wait! This would be the ultimate for folks like me! I love attending the Beach Blitz and this would just add to my love for this team!
YES!! YES!! YES!!!
Sounds like a good idea...
It sounds like a good idea, but I'm wondering if the travel time, from the Washington area to down here would be feasable for them. On the bright side, it could bring some national and professional sports coverage to this area. It would actually be better if we had our own team, instead of adopting, by default, the Redskins...but I guess that's another topic for another day.
davidt11241 is wrong
I disagree... the get the Skins training camp would be quite awesome. I live in Norfolk, and there are very few reasons why I ever visit Va. Beach -- concerts at amphitheater being one reason. If the Skins were there for a few weeks in the summer, I would be down there daily... eating lunch and probably spending money on gas and stuff. I wouldn't be the only one. This is a great idea... I hope that it works out.
What!?
At first I thought YES!! With the millions VB spent building this sportsplex and the soccer team went broke, it did sound good-until I read more of the story!?!? 2.5 mil from us!? Why, I mean the owner I am sure can pay for the improvemnets! I am sure VB will say yes, and more of our money will go out the window!!
Famous big name cities
Are the Redskins locating here going to make us as popular as Ashburn and Frostburg, Md? Can't wait.
Redskins To Virginia Beach
Only $2.5 million? What a sweetheart deal! City Council spends that much on their meetings outside the city....."Bring on the Redskins." That's one thing the city can't control.
Here we go again
The city is going to pony up the 2.5M even though the Skins have plenty of money. Why? because it will "bring in tax revenues". What crap.
Not a bad idea - but
At first glance, this seems to be a good move for both the Redskins and Virginia Beach. Many of my friends and relatives in the area are Redskin fans. However, I do not like the notion that Virginia Beach should come up with $2.5 million to sweeten the deal. The Redskins, as most professional teams, have plenty of money. If the owners want a summer training camp in Tidewater, the owners should pay for the move. Do not burden Virginia Beach taxpayers.
Charter Wells, Jr.
Spotsylvania, VA
Bring 'em on!
It's the least we can do for the next Superbowl champion.
Until certain conditions are met
Until the City of Virginia Beach builds a new animal shelter, my answer is NO.
Just what we need, a bunch of overpaid gladiators with an attitude coming to town each year.
No Tax Dollars Used
Who cares, just as long as there is NO tax dollars used to finance this. We taxpayers are being robbed of every dollar to support the VB council whims.
Here we go again!!
I see that we the tax payers will have to foot the bill again for a bad investment. I say that if the Redskins want to move thier camp here then let them pay the full cost. Did our city councel not learn from the lat time.
Who Cares if Taxpayers get Hosed Again.
Look on the bright side. Virginia Beach City Council members and their Friends and Family will Get free game tickets and be able to Smooze with the Players. It's another Win-Win Situation.