The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
A new $15 million facility that will offer multiple sports activities and could provide shelter to the public during emergency situations opens today next to the Virginia Beach Sportsplex on Landstown Road.
John Wack, president of the Virginia Beach Field House, said the facility was built because there was a need for another sports complex in the area.
"There is no comparable facility like this in Hampton Roads," Wack said. "We saw an unmet demand in South Hampton Roads."
Drew Lankford, Public Works spokesman, said city officials authorized about $400,000 toward the project for use as a public hurricane shelter.
Wack said that money was used to make sure the building's glass and doors can withstand a category 2 hurricane. T he electrical system was also upgraded with generator connector equipment and additional electrical outlets inside the building, Wack said.
The facility was built on about 13 acres of city-owned land on the northern side of the Sportsplex property that is leased to Wack's company. For the first 10 years of a 20-year lease,
Wack's company will pay city real estate taxes on the property. The city will reimburse that money with an annual incentive grant payment, though.
Wack said during normal operations, the field house's regular occupancy is 2,600 people.
In case of an emergency, the facility can hold 800 medically dependent homebound individuals.
Wack said the city can determine how it would use the shelter and would have to give a 12-hour notice. The city has to declare a state of emergency.
The 175,000-square-foot facility features two small turf fields, four large turf fields and eight volleyball courts designed to become four full-size basketball courts.
A concession area is equipped for dining, and the field house can serve beer and wine.
Wack said his company built a similar facility in Fredericksburg five years ago, but the one in Virginia Beach has better amenities.
Officials broke ground on the facility in December, he said.
The field house will run five sports seasons per year. It will offer sports such as lacrosse, flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, field hockey, soccer and basketball.
In addition to youth sports, it will provide low-impact field games and programs such as walking for senior citizens, Wack said.
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5150, jennifer.jiggetts@pilotonline.com
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For those that make the
For those that make the comment about Chilled Ponds, please keep in mind that the owner chose to take out the second ice surface and replace it with turf right before a winter sports season in a Olympic year. They probably knew full well about this sports complex going up.
Wasteful Spending
More wasteful spending of taxpayers money by the VB government. This facility will get as much use as the Sportsplex right next to it and end up mostly sitting empty.
I'd be a bit upset at this
I'd be a bit upset at this deal if I were the guy who owns Chilled Ponds in Chesapeake. They offer indoor sports also, bet no one is giving them any tax breaks or free hurricane reinforcement.
Sportsplex
Good planninmg building them close together -- when they go bust and are empty, maybe we can save tax money by having one security guard patrol both.
Nice of the city to in affect , donate the land.
More waste
Virginia Beach can not afford to build roads, fix potholes, cut the grass in medians and parks, but somehow they find money for this and a choo choo.
Public schools with generators have been used as hurricane shelters for years.
Category 2 Hurricane
Why only protective reinforcement for a category 2 hurricane? Why not for at least a 3?
Town Center Community Center
Town Center needs an indoor-outdoor pool and community center such as Bayside to attract more investment in our area. Thankyou.
HERE IS HOPING.....
the facility gets to bid and win Junior Olympic Volleyball Tournaments which can bring lots of revenue to the hotels also and see some exciting and awesome high school volleyball matches.
All the Debbie Downers aside...
I think this is a nice addition to the Landstown sports area. This facility has the potential to house the same types of events the Boo Williams facility in Hampton does. Along with the US Field hockey training site, and the Princess Anne sports fields, it will bring more visitors and perhaps they'll see the Sportsplex isn't as far as some would have you believe. Good move, here's to hoping it thrives and helps all venues. I'm not sure why so many people want everything to fail?
sports complex
There are about 450,000 people in VB. Being generous, I will say that maybe 10% will ever step foot in this building.The overwhelming majority of the citizens of this city will NEVER EVEN SEE this building. What a waste of money, again.