I came across an article this morning at Pilotonline.com that is not good news for the bike racing community. The city is researching the lease of the Sportsplex to private developers and allowing development of shopping and other facilities to help boost the usability of the Sportsplex. Although this would be great for the city it looks like it will mean the end of the criterium/multi-use trail that was opened up there last year. On the other hand if the developers are a "cycling friendly" there could be the possibility of improving the course.Upon further research I found an earlier article from July that somehow slipped under the radar. The article mentioned the interest from Princess Anne Atheletic Development LLC to lease, manage, and develop the facility. There are three people mentioned in both articles:
Chuck Thornton, Owns Hometown Heroes restaurant.
John Wack, Manages the Fredericksburg Field House.
Marcie Laumann, president of the Piranhas Soccer team.
Something positive that I have picked up from the two articles is that Princess Anne Athletic Development LLC seems to recognize the need for creating sources of revenue other than just the Sportsplex itself.
Let's hope that if the City of Virginia Beach and PA Athletic do in fact go through with this plan to develop the Sportsplex that they will listen to the voices of our cycling community. Incorporating some sort of cycling facility in to the plans will add yet another way for them to increase revenue for minimal investment. Think about it...... several hundred racers, their family, and spectators coming out to spend money to race at the complex as well as money in the surrounding stores. Even better if the course was planned out properly, unlike the one now that actually crosses the entrance to the facility, it could be used in conjuction with other events at the complex.
Read more about it here:
Developer group seeks to manage Beach's Sportsplex | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com
Maybe, if they are wanting to generate revenue, we could suggest that they look into the consrtuction of a Velodrome. They have plenty of land, and a great location with no velodrome within 7 hours drive. People would travel from the carolinas, georgia, florida, DC, to train and race here in VA Beach...would definitely generate some good revenue for both their business as well as the city of VB. Get Braden involved.