Capital Sports Center in Charleston . Rendering by ZMM Architects & Engineers .
Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar . Photo by Charleston CVB .
West Virginia State University women ’ s volleyball . Photo by Jack Bailey .
Sports
With a variety of hiking trails , state parks , rivers and athletics centers , Kanawha County is quickly becoming one of the state ’ s primary destinations for sports enthusiasts and outdoor recreation seekers alike .
In August , the City of Charleston announced the implementation of a groundbreaking new sports complex , The Capital Sports Center , which will give the state a competitive edge in the ever-growing sports tourism industry — which went from a $ 15 billion industry in 2019 to a nearly $ 40 billion industry today .
“ The Capital Sports Center will position our city and our county to compete on a national level , attracting top-tier regional and national events and generating a significant economic impact for local businesses and our economy ,” says Charleston Mayor Amy Schuler Goodwin .
This world-class facility will provide the needed infrastructure to support the local sports tourism industry .
“ In addition , The Capital Sports Center will provide our young athletes with a training facility that will better prepare them to compete in collegiate athletics or other sports opportunities ,” says Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango . “ The initial design for the 254,000-square-foot sports complex includes an aquatic center with a 50-meter pool , six full-size basketball courts that can transform into 12 full-size volleyball courts , eight indoor pickleball courts , an elevated indoor running track , a 30-foot rock climbing wall , a state-of-the-art fitness center , a wrestling room and a turf area for soccer .”
While the exciting news of The Capital Sports Center is a big win for Kanawha County , the Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar has had a significant impact on the region since it opened in 2018 . With aspirations of becoming the premier sports complex in the entire tri-state area , this multi-milliondollar sports complex includes two championship-sized soccer fields , 11 grass fields , six rectangular fields and four baseball fields .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE