Virginia Beach considers another sports venue on Oceanfront

Virginia Beach wants another major sports venue near the Oceanfront and is asking developers to pitch ideas on how to proceed.

The city recently issued a request for proposals seeking a developer to build and operate a sports venue on a 28.6-acre property directly adjacent to the convention and sports centers along 19th Street between Parks Avenue and Birdneck Road. Potential uses for the “action sports facility” include skateboarding, rock climbing, BMX, indoor water and ice sports or other compatible indoor sports uses.

The proposed sites are currently used for surface parking, with 2,513 existing parking spaces.

The city is asking developers to submit a cost estimate for the design and construction of the site and to indicate whether they will request any city financial support. If the proposal anticipates city ownership and a private operator, the RFP states that the proposal must indicate whether that operating model would put the operator at risk.

The city is also asking for proposals to state the proposed tourism and economic impacts, a concept plan and a development description showcasing the size and placement of the facility. They also need to lay out a plan to address necessary parking and stormwater solutions, and provide an estimated timeline for the project.

Proposals are due Dec. 5. Erin Goldmeier, director of media relations with Virginia Beach’s Department of Economic Development, said the city decided to pursue the project after completing the Central Beach Small Area Plan earlier this summer. The plan, intended to guide future developments, outlined the potential for athletic and recreational venues in the Central Beach region of the city, near the Oceanfront and ViBe Creative District.

Goldmeier said the action sports facility project would complement the burgeoning sports tourism industry in Virginia. For instance, the Virginia Beach Sports Center, a $68 million multipurpose indoor sports facility that opened in 2020, was designed to boost the city’s sports tourism industry and has since become a significant economic driver for Oceanfront hotels, restaurants and local businesses.

The Virginian-Pilot reported last year that, after financial troubles and mounting debt led the city to buy out the contract of the original operator, Eastern Sports Management, the facility is now managed by Sports Facilities Cos. Based in Florida, the firm oversees multiple sports and recreation venues in other tourist cities. In 2024, it entered a seven-year contract with the city that requires regular financial reporting and more city oversight.

The Virginia Beach Sports Center, one of the largest indoor sports venues on the East Coast, features 12 basketball courts that can be converted into 24 volleyball courts and has hosted NCAA events and indoor track championships.

In August, Atlantic Park Surf opened as the centerpiece of the $350 million Atlantic Park project developed by Venture Realty Group and Pharrell Williams. The Dome concert venue opened earlier this year as part of the development, too.

According to an economic impact study by Tourism Economics, 26% of the city’s tourism activity in 2023 was tied to sports, significantly above the national average of 20%. That year, all Virginia Beach tourists spent $2.5 billion, and city-related tourism generated a total economic impact of $3.8 billion.

Goldmeier stressed that the current RFP is not binding upon the city or the potential developer, and that the city is not required to make an award based on responses to the RFP.

The city will likely decide by the first quarter of 2026 whether to accept any proposals for further review or advancement. It will evaluate proposals on anticipated fiscal impact, respondent credentials and compatibility with the existing market and area land uses.