Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Dec 24, 2008 6:03:32 GMT -5
www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/SKAT24_20081223-212917/161263/
Olympic facility proposed
FRED JETER AND WESLEY P. HESTER TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS
Published: December 23, 2008
Construction on a $100 million, 50-acre Olympic training facility in the Waterford Business Center in Chesterfield County could begin in February.
The project at Route 288 and Powhite Parkway, announced yesterday at Chesterfield's Department of Economic Development, is the brainchild of Steve Burton, CEO and chairman of SportsQuest, a company he developed for this purpose.
Burton, a psychologist who owns several businesses, says he will provide a large portion of the startup cost of the project with equity.
He also said he is negotiating a loan from Bank of America and help from Olympic sponsors. He would not, however, discuss specific financial partners.
Chesterfield officials have yet to decide whether the county will contribute financially to the project.
"That is currently under evaluation," said Economic Development Director E. Wilson Davis Jr., who noted that the facility could generate 500 new jobs for the county. "We're evaluating what the impact will be on the county, and how we will participate."
Burton, a Chesterfield resident, is purchasing the land for the first of three phases for the project, which would include an ice skating rink, aquatics center, sports medicine clinic, fitness center and family entertainment center.
Later phases would include a 6,000-seat arena for sports and special events; a hotel; a retail plaza; indoor/outdoor tennis facilities with stadium seating; and a 50,000-square-foot field house.
The Chesterfield Planning Commission must approve the plan.
SportsQuest has the land under contract, said Mark Slusher, vice president of TGM Realty Investors, which owns the property.
"We wouldn't enter into a deal if we didn't think it would come to fruition," he said.
The contracted architect, HKS Inc. Sports and Entertainment Group in Richmond, wouldn't comment on the project yesterday. HKS is building the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium.
While the land is already sufficiently zoned for the proposed uses, the Planning Commission will need to approve a schematic plan before the project can move forward.
Davis said the county would be looking to "fast-track the process."
The facility is being designed to host national and international championships and Olympic trials.
Selected Olympic candidates would reside in an on-campus, 200-room hotel and train for free, Burton said.
Programming for the general public in child fitness, adult fitness and recreation would be offered, as well as sports medicine services. The idea is that revenue from recreation leagues, county programs and major events at the venue would help supplement the high-level athlete training, which would in turn serve as a draw.
The plan marks the latest in a series of sports-friendly moves by the county, which recently approved a major facility for youth soccer and swimming and contracted the help of the Richmond Sports Backers to develop a sports tourism plan.
Burton said the plan has been in the works for two years and that it was conceived while he watched speedskater Apolo Ohno in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Burton said Chesterfield was the right place for the project because a major sports venue is something the region needs.
"It's a great place to live. I want to watch Olympic sports. And frankly, Richmond has had a challenge of getting sports programming," he said. "It's been hard to get a big enough group of people to band together and support high-level sports programs."
Said Chesterfield County Adminstrator James J.L. Stegmaier: "We are very excited about the opportunities this project will make available to Chesterfield citizens as well as the region and state. We look forward to working with Dr. Burton to develop his vision of 'the Olympic Dream.'"
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if this does happen - that adds another otc to the list. and in my quest to visit all of the otcs - that makes my total 2 instead of 1. :]
Olympic facility proposed
FRED JETER AND WESLEY P. HESTER TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS
Published: December 23, 2008
Construction on a $100 million, 50-acre Olympic training facility in the Waterford Business Center in Chesterfield County could begin in February.
The project at Route 288 and Powhite Parkway, announced yesterday at Chesterfield's Department of Economic Development, is the brainchild of Steve Burton, CEO and chairman of SportsQuest, a company he developed for this purpose.
Burton, a psychologist who owns several businesses, says he will provide a large portion of the startup cost of the project with equity.
He also said he is negotiating a loan from Bank of America and help from Olympic sponsors. He would not, however, discuss specific financial partners.
Chesterfield officials have yet to decide whether the county will contribute financially to the project.
"That is currently under evaluation," said Economic Development Director E. Wilson Davis Jr., who noted that the facility could generate 500 new jobs for the county. "We're evaluating what the impact will be on the county, and how we will participate."
Burton, a Chesterfield resident, is purchasing the land for the first of three phases for the project, which would include an ice skating rink, aquatics center, sports medicine clinic, fitness center and family entertainment center.
Later phases would include a 6,000-seat arena for sports and special events; a hotel; a retail plaza; indoor/outdoor tennis facilities with stadium seating; and a 50,000-square-foot field house.
The Chesterfield Planning Commission must approve the plan.
SportsQuest has the land under contract, said Mark Slusher, vice president of TGM Realty Investors, which owns the property.
"We wouldn't enter into a deal if we didn't think it would come to fruition," he said.
The contracted architect, HKS Inc. Sports and Entertainment Group in Richmond, wouldn't comment on the project yesterday. HKS is building the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium.
While the land is already sufficiently zoned for the proposed uses, the Planning Commission will need to approve a schematic plan before the project can move forward.
Davis said the county would be looking to "fast-track the process."
The facility is being designed to host national and international championships and Olympic trials.
Selected Olympic candidates would reside in an on-campus, 200-room hotel and train for free, Burton said.
Programming for the general public in child fitness, adult fitness and recreation would be offered, as well as sports medicine services. The idea is that revenue from recreation leagues, county programs and major events at the venue would help supplement the high-level athlete training, which would in turn serve as a draw.
The plan marks the latest in a series of sports-friendly moves by the county, which recently approved a major facility for youth soccer and swimming and contracted the help of the Richmond Sports Backers to develop a sports tourism plan.
Burton said the plan has been in the works for two years and that it was conceived while he watched speedskater Apolo Ohno in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Burton said Chesterfield was the right place for the project because a major sports venue is something the region needs.
"It's a great place to live. I want to watch Olympic sports. And frankly, Richmond has had a challenge of getting sports programming," he said. "It's been hard to get a big enough group of people to band together and support high-level sports programs."
Said Chesterfield County Adminstrator James J.L. Stegmaier: "We are very excited about the opportunities this project will make available to Chesterfield citizens as well as the region and state. We look forward to working with Dr. Burton to develop his vision of 'the Olympic Dream.'"
- - - - - -
if this does happen - that adds another otc to the list. and in my quest to visit all of the otcs - that makes my total 2 instead of 1. :]
~Lori