Virginia Beach Sportsplex facts for kids
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Sportsplex Stadium
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Stone entrance to the stadium
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| Address | 2044 Landstown Centre Way Virginia Beach United States |
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| Owner | City of Virginia Beach |
| Operator | Hometown Sports Management |
| Type | Soccer-specific stadium |
| Capacity | 6,000 (expandable to 17,000) |
| Field size | 110 x 68 m |
| Surface | PowerBlade |
| Current use | Soccer Football Field hockey Rugby union |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1996 |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Construction cost | $6.8 million US$ |
| Tenants | |
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The Virginia Beach Sportsplex is a cool place for sports in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It has a main stadium that opened in 1999. This stadium was the first one in the United States built just for soccer!
The Sportsplex can seat 6,000 people. But for big American football games, it can expand to hold up to 17,000 fans. It's located near other sports areas, making it a busy hub for athletes.
Contents
What is the Virginia Beach Sportsplex?
The Virginia Beach Sportsplex is a big sports center. It's known for its main stadium, which is a soccer-specific stadium. This means it was designed especially for soccer games. Over the years, many different teams have called the Sportsplex home.
Who Plays at the Sportsplex?
Many teams have played at the Sportsplex. The Hampton Roads Piranhas, a women's soccer team, played here for several years. Other soccer teams like the Virginia Beach Mariners and Virginia Beach Piranhas also used the stadium.
Today, the Virginia Beach United FC soccer team plays here. The stadium is also home to the Virginia Rush Organization. This group helps young soccer players develop their skills. You can also find the Norfolk Blues rugby team and a semi-pro football team here.
In 2009, the city of Virginia Beach handed over the Sportsplex to a private company. This company, Hometown Sports Management, made some changes. They put in a special turf field that can be used for many different sports.
What Facilities Does the Sportsplex Have?
The Sportsplex has several great facilities for sports and events. The main building is the Sportsplex Stadium. There are also other fields and a training center.
Sportsplex Stadium: Inside Look
The Sportsplex Stadium is a large building made of steel and concrete. It has three levels.
- Ground Level: This level has ticket booths and offices. It also has changing rooms for teams and officials.
- Concourse Level: Here, you'll find a walkway for fans. There are also places to buy snacks and drinks, plus restrooms.
- Club Level: This top level has more seating. It also features six special luxury suites and press boxes for reporters.
The Playing Field
The field uses a special artificial turf surface. It's called PowerBlade HP. This turf is very strong and can handle many sports. It's even good enough for international soccer matches! The field is big enough for American football, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse.
Bright lights illuminate the field. These lights are strong enough for both live games and TV broadcasts.
Parking at the Sportsplex
There's a large parking area for visitors. It has over 2,100 spaces. Special parking is available for people with disabilities. There are also spots for buses and team vehicles.
Sportsplex 5K Course: Run for Fun
The Virginia Beach Sportsplex is famous for its 5K (about 3.1 miles) running course. Many fun races happen here. These include events like Color me Rad and the Inflatable 5K. The course goes around the stadium and nearby fields.
Sportsplex Athletic Fields: Outdoor Fun
Next to the stadium are three acres of natural grass fields. These fields are used for many events. You can see youth soccer games, lacrosse matches, and more 5K runs here.
Regional Training Center: Field Hockey Hub
The Sportsplex also has a Regional Training Center. This center is a training spot for the United States women's national field hockey team. It has two turf fields just for field hockey. The center also has offices, locker rooms, and a snack stand. Teams can rent these fields for practices and tournaments.
Virginia Destroyers: A Football Team's Home
The Virginia Sportsplex was once home to the Virginia Destroyers football team. They were part of the United Football League. The Destroyers played their home games here starting in 2011.
For their games, temporary seats were added. This expanded the stadium to hold up to 17,000 fans. The Destroyers' first game drew almost 13,000 people. They even won the 2011 UFL Championship Game at the Sportsplex! Over 14,000 fans came to watch that exciting game.
See also
In Spanish: Virginia Beach Sportsplex para niños
