Indoor Sports Complex In Woodbridge: Board's Final Decision Coming Up

WOODBRIDGE, VA — The Board of County Supervisors must make a final decision on purchasing the land to build an indoor sports complex in Woodbridge, and the item is on the board's docket Tuesday.

In November 2023, the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors approved a purchase agreement for the land on 21.85 acres at 13505 Telegraph Road in Woodbridge. The board would have to decide if it wants to terminate the agreement within 150 days — by May 20. If the board does not move forward with the project, the county would receive its $550,000 refundable security deposit back, which was funded by $416,250 in available Lift Up Lodging funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and $133,750 in transient occupancy tax fund revenues.

The proposed 250,000-square-foot facility could provide eight basketball courts with a conversion option to 16 volleyball courts and 20 pickleball courts 200-meter indoor track and event space with a conversion option to basketball courts, volleyball courts and pickleball courts, multi-purpose rooms, café with seating overlooking the track, and more space. Audience seating could provide 3,500 for track and field events and up to 6,800 for graduations.

According to a county staff presentation, the capital cost of the project is $140.45 million, which includes the land purchase. If the agreement moves forward, the county would work on other details, including if the complex would be run by the county or a third-party operator. Use of the facility would be fee-based. An estimate of expenses and revenue predicts the facility would run at a loss in the first two years and make a profit in the third year.

Inside Nova reported that Republican supervisors have raised concerns about the cost of funding the complex. Board Chair Deshundra Jefferson could be a deciding vote and told the publication she could support the county's land purchase.

The county staff presentation says benefits of an indoor sports complex are filling a need for indoor sport and special event space, boosting sports tourism, supporting economic growth and growing the tax base. The facility would be able to host 70 annual sports tourism events mainly on weekends as well as non-sports events like graduations, robotics competitions, conventions and community events.

Community feedback on the sports complex proposal has been collected, most recently at open hosues in April.

More information about the proposal is available on the project website.