1 day Ago By Trevor Metcalfe
There’s a chance of icy conditions ahead for the Military Circle mall redevelopment project. A sports tourism consultant has determined a tournament-caliber ice rink complex is the biggest opportunity for a potential redevelopment project, Norfolk Economic Development Director Sean Washington told City Council members during a Monday retreat. “The simple answer is ice,” Washington said.
That largely means figure skating and ice hockey, he said. According to sports tourism consultant Victus Advisors, an ice complex would both attract visitors from across the region within a five-hour drive of Norfolk and help differentiate the complex from competitors, such as the Virginia Beach Sports Center and the Williamsburg Sports and Event Center . Victus is completing a feasibility study on behalf of the Norfolk Economic Development Authority, which owns the majority of the former mall site.
Washington also presented an early-stage master plan for the area completed by the Gensler consulting firm. It would split the oval site into quadrants, with a residential area of 1,400 apartments, 330 townhomes and 50 single-family homes located in the southeast quadrant near the Glenrock neighborhood. The rest would be a 150,000-square-foot ice complex, other sports facilities, 350,000 square feet of retail, a 150-room hotel, office space, green space and parking.
At the retreat, council member Tommy Smigiel said the area was a golden opportunity for sports tourism. One of the local groups interviewed by Victus was the Hampton Roads Youth Hockey Association. President Rich Appleby said a new facility with at least two regulation-size ice rinks would mean tons of tourists coming in for games, practices and off-season tournaments.
That would lead to teams staying at Norfolk and Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotels and spending money at area businesses. “It would be a big boon for the business community,” Appleby said. He said the facility could attract teams from as far as New York and North and South Carolina.
Beyond ice hockey, Appleby said the rinks would attract youth and adult figure skaters as well for showcases and other events. Appleby and other area ice hockey leaders had previously tried to open a two-rink arena in Virginia Beach near the Princess Anne Athletic Complex. Victus is expected to complete the Military Circle economic feasibility study in December, Washington said, which will include various funding options.
During the retreat, Smigiel and Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander voiced opposition to using a large amount of public money to fund redevelopment projects like Military Circle and MacArthur Center. The Norfolk Economic Development Authority purchased most of the Military Circle property in 2020 and issued a request for development proposals . After announcing three finalists , the City Council began negotiations with a group led by Pharrell Williams before shelving the proposal in late 2023.
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