$15M OK'd For Woodbridge Land Purchase With Sports Complex As Potential Use

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Funding for Prince William County to complete a land purchase in north Woodbridge moved forward, but it remains unclear if the land will be used for a potential indoor sports and entertainment complex.

The Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to budget up to $15.5 million for the 21.85-acre land purchase at 13505 Telegraph Road in Woodbridge. Supervisors Tom Gordy (R-Brentsville) and Bob Weir (R-Gainesville) voted against the purchase. Supervisor Yesli Vega (R-Coles) broke with her party to support the land purchase after the possible sports and event complex use was struck from the agenda item.

In November 2023, the board had directed county staff to start a purchase agreement for the property. The price in the sales agreement was $16 million, leaving a balance of $15.45 million after a deposit of $550,000 using $416,250 in Lift Up Lodging funds and $133,750 in Tourism Occupancy Tax funds. Closing on the property is expected around June 17.

According to board documents, the fiscal year 2025 budget recently adopted by the Board of County Supervisors includes debt service for the property purchase.

An indoor sports complex has been proposed as a potential use to host large sporting events as well as special events like graduations, trade shows, expos, and corporate and community events. Since the county did public engagement on a possible sports complex, there has been a mix of public comments for and against the proposal. A previous county staff presentation indicated the current estimated capital cost of the project would be $140.45 million.

The board had to determine within 150 days of the November 2023 land purchase agreement — May 20 — if it wanted to terminate the agreement. A final effort to end the agreement, supported by Republicans Weir, Gordy and Vega, failed before the deadline.

Chair Deshundra Jefferson has expressed skepticism about the sports and event complex use but supports the purchase to explore other uses.

"What is this land use for? It could be used for a number of things," said Jefferson at Tuesday's meeting. "If we choose not to move forward with the indoor sports complex there for the land, I see it as a strategic purchase."

Weir called the land purchase the result of an "ill-conceived proposal that was delineated at the end of the last board's term."

"It's $15 million. We've got a lot of needs in this county, and engaging in land speculation at this level really doesn't sit well with me," said Weir. "I think the problem that I principally have with this is a 150-day study period initiated at the very end of the last four terms, and now we're stuck with it. We're lost a half a million dollars, and this, by all appearances, seems to be simply maintaining artificial respiration for the indoor track project."

Supervisor Kenny Boddye (D-Occoquan), whose district the land is located in, said land purchases have been beneficial for the county.

"It allowed us to have bio science facilities. It allowed us to have incubators. It allowed us to have a whole host of possibilities and potentials there that we may not have had or otherwise," said Boddye. "So I have been a fan of looking at us buying land as a county. The price of land has not gone down over the years, and is it has allowed us to have some flexibility and opportunities that we not we may not have had otherwise."

Boddye said he believes in the sports complex project but supports the land purchase to look into other options. He said the land is next to one of the county's largest commuter lots and near retail, Express Lanes and mass transit with potential for a future transit hub.

"No matter how you look at the use of this area, whether it's going to be indoor sports complex, a mixed-use town center, as prescribed by the landing small area plan this board adopted before this board took our seats," said Boddye. "Whatever else you're looking at, buying land and controlling land is a key part of making sure that this county's vision is secure."