“Dried-In” Milestone Reached for Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center
Overall, construction is 70% complete with HVAC, flooring, turf and gym equipment coming up
The Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority (HTRFA) board met earlier this month to review progress on the Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center (GWSEC), which is expected to open in mid-2026. The agenda included updates from executive leadership, construction management, facility operators, and finance staff.
Construction update
Meredith Shirley, an Engineer Technician with MBP, delivered the latest construction update on the Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center. She reported that the building was “dried-in” on August 28, meaning that the exterior is sealed and the interior is protected from outside elements. Shirley also stated that construction is now roughly 70 percent complete and slightly ahead of schedule.
MBP is assisting Chesapeake-based MEB, the design-build lead for the regional indoor sports center. The company has also built other sports facilities in the region, including the Virginia Beach Sports Center and the Women’s Intercollegiate Crew Facility in Norfolk.
Shirley noted that along with installing all exterior windows, crews have also completed interior framing. Inside the structure, progress continues on the kitchen, plumbing, lighting, and ductwork, with drywall and painting underway on the first floor. She added that the epoxy flooring sample has been approved, and work in the hub space and kitchen areas is advancing with ceiling painting and drywall finishes.
According to Shirley, several major milestones are approaching: maple flooring installation is scheduled for December, turf roll installation will follow in January, and the facility’s feature gym is expected to ship in December and begin installation at the start of the new year. Site work, including hardscapes, landscaping, and parking lots, is about 50 percent complete and will continue through the end of the year.
Operator report
KemperSports manages operations for the Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center, drawing on what it states as national experience running more than 200 sports venues, golf courses, and destination resorts. At the meeting, recently appointed General Manager Ben Hardouin presented a strategic update on operations, event development, and marketing for the Sports and Events Center, underscoring the focus on building momentum ahead of opening.
Hardouin spoke about continuing efforts to build a pipeline of events for the new facility. He highlighted growing interest from sports organizations, including Riverside Volleyball, which is considering bringing 190 teams for a major 2027 tournament. He added that KemperSports is also working with corporate planners and will attend the Teams Conference in Ohio to connect with roughly 100 additional industry contacts.
Marketing initiatives are also expanding. The center’s website now promotes corporate and community events, a monthly newsletter will launch by the end of the month, and a branding guide and 30-day social media calendar have been developed to support consistent messaging and audience engagement.
To enhance the client experience, Hardouin said the new TripleSeat customer relationship management platform will streamline communication with event holders, while all staff will undergo KemperSports’ “True Service” training to deliver a consistent, high-level guest experience.
The GM indicated that current priorities include finalizing items like furniture, fixtures and equipment list (FF&E) list as well as wayfinding signage. He noted that interviews for food and beverage managers are beginning soon to ensure staffing aligns with the center’s operational needs, noting that his team wants to “hit to hit the ground running with those individuals and make sure that we have the right person in the right seat when that time comes.”
Executive Director welcomed
Executive Director Dana Youst delivered her first report since taking on the role, outlining early progress and upcoming priorities for the Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center. “I can't even express how welcome everyone here has made me feel,” Youst told the board, thanking representatives from all three jurisdictions and partners for their support.
In recent weeks, Youst has already overseen execution of a contract for cabling at the sports complex, held introductory meetings with Parks and Recreation directors, and met with the construction team to get up to speed on the project’s progress.
She has also been coordinating daily with KemperSports’ Hardouin, setting up monthly meetings with Visit Williamsburg’s sports division, with plans to expand to its events division, and scheduling regular meetings with The Superlative Group, which is assisting with selling naming-rights for the new facility.
Youst said her team is developing standard operating procedures and an emergency action plan, finalizing the FF&E budget, and reviewing facility fees and programming needs. Calendar discussions with Parks and Recreation are planned for October, and she is reviewing contracts, leases, and invoices while exploring grant opportunities for next year.
Financial snapshot
Finance Director Barbara Dameron reported that all three jurisdictions have submitted their maintenance-of-effort contributions, with Williamsburg’s $586,000 deposited on September 2, James City County contributing $542,302.64, and York County submitting $80,356.06 of its $321,424 total.
She said operating revenues stood at $622,658 as of August 31. At the end of the month, the authority had $11.27 million in cash on hand and $9.4 million in the bond escrow account. A bond drawdown of $8.8 million on September 2 reduced escrow to $668,000 but boosted the cash balance to about $20 million.
The authority closed August with a net position of $13.64 million. Dameron said she and Davenport are finalizing the project’s borrowing plan, which will cover guaranteed construction costs, including furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). “We’re still within budget thanks to the guaranteed maximum price contract,” she said. A final plan will be ready in October for authority approval before it moves to Williamsburg City Council for consideration.
The writer used AI tools and these sources:
Video - Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority - Sep 10 2025
HTRFA - Statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Net Position For Month Ended August 31, 2025