City officials hope UFL team helps turn around Sportsplex

VIRGINIA BEACH

The United Football League's announcement last week that it would make the Virginia Beach Sportsplex the home of the new Virginia Destroyers could be a much-needed touchdown for the Sportsplex, city leaders said.

The UFL could help turn around the Sportsplex, which has stumbled along for most of its 12-year history. The city spent $10.6 million to build the venue as a soccer stadium to attract a professional team. But Major League Soccer never came.

"I think football is a lot more popular of a sport than soccer, at least in the U.S.," Councilman Jim Wood said. "The prospect of having NFL-quality players will certainly be a big draw."

In early 2009, the City Council turned over the operation of the Sportsplex to Chuck Thornton and his Hometown Sports Management. Most council members were eager to free the city of the $447,000-a-year cost to run the facility and hopeful that a private firm could do a better job booking events.

The first thing Thornton did was tear up the grass field and install synthetic turf at a cost of about $800,000. Thornton also opened the field to other sports, including high school and youth football and lacrosse.

The result?

Two years ago, the city hosted about 40 events in a year. Between August 2009 and June of this year, Sportsplex hosted 286 events.

"That's a tremendous improvement," said Cindy Curtis, the city's parks and recreation director. "That's the difference in artificial turf."

If the Virginia Destroyers come, the venue, which can seat 6,500, will have a professional sports team calling it home, Thornton said.

Still, whether pro football is successful in the Sportsplex will depend on how well the league is able to market the games, how impressive the half time shows are and on the players and coaches, Thornton said.

"It's got to be an experience," Thornton said.

Part of that experience includes the pre-game ritual of tailgating. It's not prohibited, per se, in Virginia Beach. But drinking alcohol in public is, and the Sportsplex parking lot is a public place, Deputy City Attorney Rod Ingram said.

The Virginia Beach Amphitheater, which is near the Sportsplex, prohibits tailgating.

Hometown Sports could apply for a permit from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to allow drinking in Sportsplex parking areas, Ingram said.

Thornton said he's been assured he could get permits.

"You can't do it without tailgating," he said.

The UFL is also asking the city to forgo admission taxes on tickets to offset the $400,000 to $600,000 the league plans to spend in improving the Sportsplex and adding more temporary seats. City officials stress the financial arrangements still need to be finalized.

"It's not a done deal yet," Curtis said. "I am thrilled with the opportunity."

Pilot writer Aaron Applegate contributed to this story.

Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com