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The facility, to be called the Prince William Sports and Events Center, is proposed for 22 acres near Telegraph and Caton Hill roads and Prince William Parkway, near the Horner Road commuter lot.
The facility will be a 250,000-square-foot building designed to host large-scale indoor competitions such as track and field, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, cheerball and wrestling, with seating for more than 5,000 spectators.
Any sport that can be played on a hardwood surface can be played in this facility. At the April 10 meeting, futsal (a type of indoor soccer), badminton and even archery were mentioned.
The facility will also be used for graduation ceremonies, trade shows, and corporate and community events.
What could be inside?
The facility is planned to include eight basketball courts that could be converted into 16 volleyball courts and 24 pickleball courts. The facility will also feature a 200-meter hydraulic “inclined” indoor track. There will also be a function room, lounge, kitchen, dining area, bathroom and changing rooms. There will be no swimming pool, lawn or baseball field, officials said at the meeting.
Who will use it and how?
The center is not intended to operate like a recreation center or local gym, but there will be opportunities for public use, particularly during the week. The courts and other facilities will be open to local leagues or clubs on a “wholesale rental” model Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Officials said the facility will not sell individual memberships, but residents can join a league or create their own and rent a court to play.
Local high school sports teams and other leagues are expected to use the facility on weekday afternoons and evenings. Officials said they expect to be fully booked every weekend when a game or event is held.
Prince William County Parks and Recreation Department officials said local families sometimes drive several hours to take their children to area sporting events. Having local event facilities will allow local residents to attend games closer to home.
How will the county pay for this?
The plan is for the county to own the facility. That means the county will purchase the land, pay for construction and purchase the furniture, fixtures and equipment included in it. The county’s proposed fiscal 2025 budget includes $16 million to purchase the land.
The building’s construction and renovations are expected to cost $141 million and will be financed through bonds repayable over 20 years, at an annual cost of $10 million, officials said.
The facility is expected to generate an annual economic impact of $50 million (primarily through hotel and restaurant spending) and create more than 900 new jobs. It is also estimated that approximately $1.5 million in direct tax revenue is generated annually through expenditures on food, beverages and hotel accommodations.
Since the county will own the facility, it will receive any profits it generates. The county estimates the center will generate $400,000 in annual profits after the first three years.
The county would also be responsible for any losses if the facility fails to generate enough revenue to cover its costs.
This is not done yet. The project is in the “research period”. Last October, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted to spend about $860,000 on a feasibility study.
The county also paid a $550,000 deposit for the 21 acres on which the building will be built, which is refundable if the county decides not to move forward.
Supervisors will decide on Tuesday, May 14, whether to purchase the land. They then had to decide how to proceed with building the sports and activities centre. Officials said there is no strict deadline for the decision.
Contact Cher Muzyk: cmuzyk@fauquier.com
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