Virginia Beach Sportsplex facts for kids
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| Location | 2044 Landstown Centre Way Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456 |
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| Owner | City of Virginia Beach |
| Operator | Hometown Sports Management |
| Capacity | 6,000 (expandable to 17,000) |
| Surface | PowerBlade HP 2.0SR by Sportexe |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1996 |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Construction cost | $6.8 million US$ |
| Tenants | |
| Virginia Beach Mariners (USL 1) (1999–2006) Hampton Roads Piranhas (W-League) (2000–2002, 2006) Virginia Beach Piranhas (USLPDL) (2006–2013) Virginia Destroyers (UFL) (2011–2012) Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL/WPSL) (2014–2019) Virginia Beach United FC (USL2) (2019–present) |
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The Virginia Beach Sportsplex is a big sports area in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Most people use the name to talk about the main stadium there, which opened in 1999.
This stadium has 6,000 seats, but it can be made bigger for American football games. It can hold up to 17,000 people! It was the first stadium in the United States built just for soccer. The Sportsplex is close to the Princess Anne Athletic Complex and the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater.
The main stadium used to be home to the Hampton Roads Piranhas. This was a women's soccer team. They played there from 1999 to 2002. Other teams like the Virginia Beach Mariners also played at the Sportsplex.
Today, the stadium is the main office for the Virginia Rush Organization. It's also where their U16 and U18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams play. The Norfolk Blues rugby team and the Southern Virginian Trojans football team also use the stadium.
In 2009, a company called Hometown Sports Management took over the Sportsplex. They changed the grass field to a strong turf that many sports can use. They also paved the parking lot.
Contents
Discover the Sportsplex Stadium
The Sportsplex Stadium is a large building made of steel and concrete. It has three levels.
- The ground level has ticket booths and changing rooms for teams.
- The middle level has a wide path for fans. It also has places to buy food and drinks, and restrooms.
- The top level has more seats, plus six special luxury rooms. There are also rooms for the press and reporters.
The Amazing Playing Field
The field uses a special type of turf called PowerBlade HP 2.0SR. This turf looks and feels like real grass. It is also very strong and great for sports. It helps games be faster and makes the ball roll smoothly.
The field is big enough for international soccer games. It is 75 yards wide and 120 yards long. This size is also perfect for football, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse.
Bright Lights for Night Games
The stadium has very bright lights. They make the field as bright as day. This is great for night games and for TV broadcasts.
Easy Parking for Fans
There is a large parking area near the stadium. It has over 2,100 parking spots. There are also special spots for people with disabilities. Plus, there's space for buses and team vehicles.
Yummy Food and Drinks
The stadium has many places to buy food and treats. Fans on the main level can easily get snacks. The top level also has food, with special menus for the luxury rooms. Teams can even order meals ahead of time at a discount.
Fun Picnic Spots
There's a special picnic area at the southeast end of the field. It's a great spot for family or company parties. The Sportsplex catering service can provide food for these gatherings.
Sportsplex 5K Course
The Virginia Beach Sportsplex is famous for its 5K running course. Many well-known races happen here. These include Color me Rad, Dirty Girl Mud Run, Military Challenge, and Inflatable 5K.
The race starts on the Sportsplex turf. It then goes behind the stadium, around the athletic fields, and the Regional Training Center fields. It finishes back at the Smoke Pit area.
Sportsplex Athletic Fields
The Sportsplex also has 3 acres of natural grass fields. These fields are used for many events. They host youth soccer, lacrosse, and 5K races.
It's important to keep these grass fields in great shape. The Sportsplex team works hard to maintain them. This makes sure the grass is always high quality for every game and event.
Regional Training Center
The Sportsplex also has a Regional Training Center. This is a special place for the U.S. Women's National Team field hockey team. It has two turf fields and its own office building.
This training center is one of the best field hockey places in America. It has lights, locker rooms, parking, and a snack stand. You can even rent the fields for field hockey events, camps, or tournaments.
Virginia Destroyers Football Team
On November 10, 2010, the Virginia Destroyers football team announced they would play at the Sportsplex. This team was part of the United Football League.
The league added temporary seats to make the stadium bigger. It could then hold between 14,000 and 17,000 fans. The Destroyers' first game had almost 13,000 fans. Virginia won that game 34–17.
The Destroyers set a record for the Sportsplex. Over 14,000 fans came to the 2011 UFL Championship Game. The Destroyers won the championship against the Las Vegas Locomotives. So many people came that some had to stand!
The team's attendance went down in 2012. The league ended its season early. The Destroyers team stopped playing in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Virginia Beach Sportsplex para niños
