West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 65

Leveling the Playing Field
By Samantha Cart
West Virginia has become a mini mecca for sports tourism, a $9
billion industry in the U.S. according to the National Association
of Sports Commissions. As Mountain State communities continue
to capitalize on this opportunity, new facilities are in the works.
Indoor aquatic center. Photo by Mylan Park.
In Greenbrier County, clearing has been completed for the
Sportsplex, an 88-acre development that will be home to five
soccer fields and a baseball quadraplex with moveable fences
to accommodate all leagues.
“Once finished, we will host baseball, softball and soccer
tournaments all season long,” says Lowell Rose, president
of the Greenbrier County Commission. “Greenbrier County
depends heavily on tourism, and this type of project helps bring
people to the area who hopefully return to visit at other times.”
Shawnee Sports Complex.
Photo by Ben Salango.
“It will bring people to The Highlands, and once they
come, especially if they stay overnight, they’re going to shop,
eat and stay in the hotels,” says Randy Wharton, Ohio County
commissioner and president of the Ohio County Development
Authority. “This will fill the gaps where retail may be slow at
certain times of the year. It will help the whole local economic
community.”
Spectators will be able to enjoy the action from the Highland
Sports Complex mezzanine floor and stop by its on-site cafe.
A fitness center offering free weights and machines, cardio,
group fitness classes and personal trainers is slated to open in
the fall, and kids can take advantage of a climbing area.
“Not only does it provide a sports complex for people to do
their activities, but it also brings more business to The Highlands,
which helps the overall project,” says Wharton.
Shawnee Sports Complex
With multiple turf and grass fields for sports ranging from
soccer, lacrosse and football to baseball, softball and ultimate
frisbee, the Shawnee Sport Complex in Dunbar, WV, has the
capacity to host 3,000 spectators at once. It also has 27 acres
of grass fields, a welcome center, press box, two concessions
and more than 1,000 parking spaces. Open for just two years,
the complex has already secured regional tournaments bringing
millions of dollars in tourism activity to Kanawha County.
“We actually secured these tournaments before the complex
was complete,” says Kanawha County Commissioner Ben
Salango. “The complex hosted the 2019 U.S. Youth Soccer
(USYS) Regional and Presidents Cup and has also secured the
2021 USYS Presidents Cup.”
Plans are in the works to build a shelter and stage area in
honor of the high school class of 2020. The Pitch sports bar
In February, a $1.8 million investment toward a multi-sports
complex in Barboursville, WV, was announced by the Barboursville
Village Council. Development plans include updating the area’s
current soccer complex with synthetic turf and new lighting and
building new indoor and outdoor facilities. The outdoor facility
will include soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball and softball
fields, while the 60,000-square-foot indoor facility will include
batting cages, volleyball courts and indoor fields.
and restaurant recently opened inside the complex, serving
up local beer.
“The economic impact of the Shawnee Sports Complex on
Institute and the surrounding areas is and will be great,” says
Salango. “We can have two regional tournaments over the span of
less than two weeks and create a $20 million economic impact.”
Valley Park
At Valley Park in Hurricane, WV, three turf baseball fields
host travel games that bring an average of 700 visitors to Putnam
County every weekend of the season. A turf soccer field provides
practice and game space for local and state soccer clubs,
and with an 8,000-square-foot conference center ballroom,
an all-inclusive playground and a wave pool, the park stays
booked with weddings, conferences and meetings.
“Companies like booking our facility because it’s halfway
between Huntington and Charleston,” says Ashley Deal, codirector
of Putnam County Parks and Recreation. “In addition,
our sports facilities are utilized by local teams every day during
baseball and soccer seasons. Tournaments have increased year
over year going from five in 2018 to 26 scheduled in 2020.”
Fundraising projects are in the works to build a barn and
amphitheater at Valley Park with indoor batting cages and a
place for foam dart wars and indoor exercise classes as well.
“With all the facilities and activities our parks have to
offer, we have something for a wide variety of people,” says
Deal. “We are extremely lucky to have such a gorgeous state.
Developing parks and recreation not only showcases that beauty
and drives tourism into our state but also promotes health and
wellness in our communities.” •
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