WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — The James City County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to fund a new sports center that leaders hope will bring more people to the Historic Triangle. approved.
Supervisors agreed to help pay for the operating costs of the $80 million, 200,000-square-foot facility planned as the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center. That’s no more than $1.6 million a year.
The center is a partnership between James City County, York County and Williamsburg with the goal of attracting travel sports tournaments, increasing hotel stays and increasing attendance to area attractions. The trio also plans to create the Historic Delta Recreation Facilities Authority, which will oversee the new sports center.
The center has space for 12 basketball courts and can be converted into 24 volleyball courts and 36 pickleball courts, as well as a turf field system, rock walls, and ninja gym equipment.
Owners acknowledge they will likely need subsidies each year, as they have previously stated they will likely operate at a loss of $300,000 to $400,000 a year. According to projections, the center could generate 42,000 hotel rooms annually and generate $1.3 million in additional tax revenue to be shared among the three governments.
“The benefits to the tourism industry far outweigh the benefits to taxpayers, and I don’t think the tourism industry will probably get a good return on its investment,” James City County Supervisor Jim Isenhour said. Ta.
But Vice President Ruth Larson said the area needs a sports center.
“Our restaurant tours cannot survive without bringing in new people and visitors,” Larson said. “So I would ask you to consider some of those things. And for the people who are investing back into our economy, we want to make sure that by doing something with this we are giving back to them. We have an obligation to invest in our economy.”
The Williamsburg City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal Thursday.
It is estimated that the sports center could open in 2026 if all three governments in the historic delta approve the financing deal.