Hampton Roads has sports tourism fever.
With a sports complex open in Virginia Beach and another under construction in Williamsburg, the Norfolk City Council is investigating the feasibility of a sporting facility anchoring a redevelopment project at the former Military Circle mall property.
Two consultants presented plans to study the economic impact and cost of redevelopment and create a master plan for the site during a City Council work session Tuesday.
“We see this as an opportunity to create a new, livable mixed-use community also with destination appeal,” said Mark Erdly of Gensler, a design firm studying the property.
Erdly said the consultant envisioned a sports complex anchoring the site, with other features including housing, retail, food and a hotel.
Some Council members approved of the sports complex idea, but others wanted to better understand the market for such a development. Mamie Johnson hoped the redevelopment could — like the former mall — also make the space a safe hangout spot for young people.
Council member JP Paige, who represents Ward 4 where the mall is located, said in an interview that students who play sports have a better chance at being successful in life. However, he wanted to make sure the city did its research and investigated how similar complexes were doing.
City Council member Courtney Doyle voiced a similar opinion during Tuesday’s meeting. She asked the consultants to study facilities not only in Hampton Roads, but across the state, when investigating the demand for another sports complex.
“Others are getting into the sphere now,” Doyle said. “I really want a very honest and realistic comparative analysis for the intake area that we’re going to be developing.”
Williamsburg recently broke ground on an $80 million, 200,000-square-foot indoor sports complex expected to open in 2026. The $68 million Virginia Beach Sports Center in opened 2020. That facility has been operating at a loss according to a 2023 city audit, even though it is bringing more business to area hotels, restaurants and shops.
Utah-based Victus Advisors is studying the economic feasibility of the Norfolk sports complex. Founder Brian Connolly told council members typical facilities could be used every day — by local teams during the week and for travel teams and tournaments during the weekend. He also touted the spending power of traveling athletes and their families, who usually come from up to five hours away and spend two nights in the area.
The consultants are soliciting input from several community stakeholders, including the East Side Task Force, a city group made up of representatives from neighborhoods near Military Circle.
In 2020, Norfolk purchased the parts of Military Circle not owned by Sentara Health and issued a request for proposals for redevelopment. The three finalists included Wellness Circle, a Pharrell Williams-backed plan that included an arena. Norfolk City Council entered talks with Williams’ team, but after months of negotiations city officials said those plans had been scrapped in November.
Erdly said the firms will develop recommendations from market analysis in about four to six week, then create a master plan to present to City Council members in about 12 weeks.
Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com
