WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Friday morning marked the first day of construction for the Williamsburg Sports and Events Center, a massive indoor sports complex in the Historic Triangle.
A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction in Williamsburg, just adjacent to the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.
Community leaders and city officials were in attendance of the ceremony, many of them sharing how the facility is expected to bring sports tourism and economic growth to the region.
Williamsburg Mayor Douglas Pons shared his enthusiasm, saying, "It is exciting to see the Historic Triangle another step closer to having the regional indoor sports center that so many have envisioned for this area for so long. This type of big thinking is only possible when people reach beyond assigning credit, push past conventional practices, and persist through political pressure.”
Developers anticipate the sports center will attract national and regional tournaments, increasing tourism and giving residents a recreational space.
The 200,000-square-foot sports facility will feature 12 basketball courts that can be transformed into 24 volleyball courts and 36 pickleball courts. There'll also be a climbing wall, ninja gym equipment, and a conversion turf system will be included.
This comes after the Williamsburg City Council, James City County Board of Supervisors, and York County Board of Supervisors approved plans to develop the massive indoor sports facility in December of 2023. Those plans included the project's design, cost estimate, and financing plans.
The Williamsburg Sports and Events Center is a collaborative effort by the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County under the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority. The facility is scheduled to open in 2026.