Regional sports & events center anticipates $2.4M revenue, $674K net loss in FY27
Job fairs for front-line staff on April 14 and April 18; on-track for August opening
KemperSports, selected by the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority (HTRFA) in 2024 to operate and manage the Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center, projects the facility will generate approximately $2.44 million in operating revenue in its first full year of operation, though total expenditures are expected to exceed that figure, resulting in an estimated net loss of around $674,000, according to a presentation given to the HTRFA Board of Directors on April 8, 2026. The HTRFA, a partnership between the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County, tapped KemperSports for its experience managing youth, amateur, and recreational sports facilities nationwide.
With an August 2026 opening scheduled, KemperSports is responsible for staffing, food and beverage services, marketing, and event coordination, and is already marketing the GWSEC to major youth sports organizations with bookings extending through 2029. The leadership team is headed by General Manager Ben Hardouin and includes an executive chef and full-time staff for financial management, operations, and sales and marketing, along with hourly employees in food and beverage, sports operations, and janitorial services. The adopted budget projects total payroll covering salaries, wages, taxes, and benefits at $1,691,556.
Overall, The HTRFA’s proposed FY2027 budget totals $5,650,000 on both the revenue and expenditure sides. Revenue comprises $1.6 million in operating subsidies from James City County and York County and $4.05 million in capital revenue from locality contributions, debt service, and interest. Expenditures are divided across operating costs of $1,999,789, lease expenses of $196,961, and capital expenditures of $3,453,250.
Job Fairs scheduled next week
The Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center is hosting two job fairs to recruit front-line staff ahead of its opening, with positions available in guest services, event operations, food and beverage, the Adventure Gym, housekeeping, and facility maintenance. Event details:
Dates: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 5:00–8:00 PM and Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Williamsburg, 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Registration: Candidates can reserve a time at the facility’s “join the team” webpage: https://www.gwsportsandeventscenter.com/join-the-team
Construction Update
As of the March 2026 construction report provided by MBP, the project’s construction managers, the GWSEC is progressing steadily toward its August 2026 opening, with key milestones on schedule:
Site work: 80% complete, up from 75% reported at the March 11 meeting
Overall building: 85% complete
Main hub space: 90% complete
Sports courts: 90% complete, up from 85% in early March
Owner vendors (low voltage wiring, AV equipment, security cameras and wireless access): 50% complete
Storefronts: fully installed
Maple gym flooring installation and parking lot paving are scheduled for April 2026. Substantial completion is set for June 10, 2026, with a final completion date of August 4, 2026.
Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of how GWSEC management expects to make money and how it plans to spend it …
Proposed FY2027 GWSEC operations budget
When beginning the discussion of Kemper’s proposed budget to operate GWSEC, Hardouin spoke about the mission statement that had been created for the venue. “Our mission is to deliver elevated sports and events experiences, and bring people together, support health and wellness, and strengthen our community—locally rooted, nationally relevant, and hospitality-driven in every detail,” he stated. Hardouin also noted that the company’s goal is to establish the facility as a central gathering place for both local and national events, while highlighting a commitment to providing experiences that “stand out in the sports venue space.”
Budget details at the meeting were presented by Will Spence, Regional Operations Executive for Kemper Sports. Spence noted that the budget was organized by key revenue drivers, which he identified as food and beverage events, local and tournament sports events as well as other sources. “We’ve built the budget based on known — and we’ll call locked, close to locked-in events — and we continue to add more in,” Spence said.
GWSEC FY2027 projected revenue
According to the adopted budget, projected revenue for the new facility is drawn from six primary categories, totaling $2,443,300 in anticipated gross revenue before expenses:
Food and beverage sales: $839,000
Local sports: $735,250
Program and events: $456,225
Events: $232,325
Tournaments: $113,500
General administration: $67,000
Food and Beverage
Food and beverage represents the largest single revenue source at a projected $839,000, supported by a cost of goods budget of $351,360. Projections assume 106,940 visitors spending an average of $8 per visit, supplemented by 53 catering events averaging $4,100 each.
The cafe program is designed to go beyond standard concession fare, offering regionally influenced menu items, specialty coffees, local draft beers and a full soda line, with a pouring rights contract under review. Mobile carts will be deployed during high-volume events to manage congestion. The catering program offers customizable menus on a tiered per-guest pricing structure, with plated or buffet-style service and full bartender service under a liquor license. Kitchen equipment is already installed, and management is in the final stages of hiring a food and beverage manager.
Hardouin spoke specifically about the venue banquet and catering business, which they expect to supplement the sports tournament revenue stream. “One of our challenges … is shifting our focus a little bit,” he told board members. “We’re more than just a sports event center. We still get quite a few people who didn’t know we do banquets and catering, so we want to expand the vision there a little bit. And let people know that we have this capability,” Hardouin added.
Sports and Tournaments
Local sports and tournament activity collectively account for $848,750 in projected revenue. Local sports rentals are projected at $735,250, anchored by 71 total sporting events in the pipeline, including 56 confirmed bookings through 2029. Event volume peaks in 2027 with 29 scheduled events, followed by 20 in 2028. Regional tournaments contribute an additional $113,500, modeled on 35 tournaments averaging $15,000 each. The sports pipeline includes:
Volleyball camps and tryouts
A two-day flag football tournament
Additional court bookings running through 2029
As of March 2026, the GWSEC General Manager reported that more than 60 events were fully contracted facility-wide, with over 100 others in negotiations across all categories.
Program and Events
Programming and events are projected to contribute $688,550 across two categories. Adventure Gym and local programming account for $456,225, scaled across local use, event attendance and programmable opportunities, with the facility designed to serve both competitive and recreational users. Non-sports events contribute an additional $232,325, modeled on 12 full-facility bookings averaging $6,500 each. The pipeline currently includes 41 non-sporting events with 25 confirmed, the majority scheduled for the facility’s opening year in 2026. Confirmed bookings include the SEMA Conference and SuperCon.
GWSEC FY2027 projected expenses
The proposed FY2027 budget projects $2,958,560 in total operating expenditures across three categories: payroll, cost of goods, and operating expenses.
Payroll is the largest expense at $1,691,556, covering salaries, wages, taxes, and benefits for both salaried leadership and hourly staff. The salaried leadership team includes a General Manager, Property Controller, Executive Chef, and Guest Services Manager, supported by hourly staff across food and beverage, sports operations, and janitorial services. Cost of goods totals $351,360, allocated entirely to food and beverage, including food, beer, wine, and liquor.
The remaining $915,644 covers operating expenses, including:
Utilities: $300,000
Marketing and advertising: $156,000 total, broken down as $100,000 for primary advertising including placements with Sports ETA, youth organizations, and highlight videos; $30,000 for online advertising covering geotargeting, paid social media, and website promotions; and $26,000 for industry trade show participation and booth setups
Food service supplies: $120,000 for paper, plastics, and dishwashing supplies
Credit card processing fees: $85,000
Repair and maintenance: $80,000 for facility repairs, professional cleaning, and ongoing maintenance
Travel: $27,000 for KemperSports corporate staff to support opening operations and ongoing reviews
Cleaning services: $26,740 for professional window cleaning and supplemental cleaning during tournament operations
The remainder covers smaller administrative and operational needs totaling approximately $97,000.
The writer used AI tools and these source:
GWSEC Job Fair: April 14th and April 18th — Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce
Meeting Agenda - Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority - Apr 08 2026
Meeting Video - Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority - Apr 08 2026
KemperSports Selected to Manage Williamsburg Sports & Events Center | KemperSports
Meet the Team - Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center
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