The St. James (sports complex)

The St. James is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) 450,000-square-foot multi-purpose sports complex located in Springfield, Virginia, United States. The complex includes a private health club, water park; venues for basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball, swimming, climbing, gymnastics, golf, and squash; and two professional regulation-sized indoor ice hockey rinks and one soccer pitch.[3] The complex is used by Major League Soccer (MLS) team D.C. United as its official training center[4][5] and by Women's Football Alliance team D.C. Divas as a home venue.[6]

The St. James
Address6805 Industrial Road
Springfield, Virginia
United States
Coordinates38°47′50.9403″N 77°10′48.74146″W
Construction
Broke ground2017
OpenedSeptember 15, 2018 (2018-09-15)[1]
ArchitectHKS, Inc.[2]
BuilderAkridge Development Co.[2]
General contractorL.F. Jennings[2]
Acreage20
Tenants
D.C. Divas (playing venue)
D.C. United (training venue)

History

The St. James was founded by former football players Craig A.A. Dixon, an investment banker, and Kendrick F. Ashton Jr., a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, who met as classmates at the College of William & Mary in 1994.[3][7][8] Dixon and Ashton serve as co-chief executive officers. The organization's name is a reference to the Court of St. James in honor of its association with the college.[3] The organization began investigating real estate in the Washington metropolitan area, including an unsolicited June 2013 development proposal submitted to Alexandria, Virginia, for the development of a large-scale sports complex and health club that the group withdrew due to restrictions on the property.[9] Cain International provided primary investment in the venture after a meeting between the organization's founders and Cain board member Todd Boehly during a William & Mary event.[7]

Venues

The complex includes a FIFA-regulation-sized indoor artificial turf field, two NHL-regulation-sized indoor ice hockey rinks, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The soccer pitch can also be converted for use as a lacrosse, gridiron football, and rugby field. The complex also includes squash courts, a gymnastics center, and four full-length basketball courts convertible to volleyball courts.[10] Since 2022, women's gridiron football team D.C. Divas have used the indoor pitch as a home venue.[6]

Entertainment and training facilities include baseball batting cages, golf simulators, climbing and bouldering facilities, an esports theater, and an indoor water park and playground.[10] In 2019, the complex added a restaurant named Vim & Victor, operated by celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn.[11]

Programs and events

Upon opening, the facility announced plans to provide 1,200 programs across 30 sports.[12]

Ice hockey

The St. James's ice hockey rinks opened during a shortage of available ice time in the Washington metro area.[13] The complex operates youth ice hockey clubs that have exclusive use of the rinks, and its youth teams have featured the sons of Washington Capitals players Nicklas Backstrom and Karl Alzner.[14] Capitals player Alex Ovechkin attended the facility's groundbreaking and helped coach its under-10 boys team during its grand opening.[12][15] The facility's ice rinks are primarily for members and its own teams.[16]

Men's soccer

In April 2019, MLS team D.C. United entered a five-year agreement to use The St. James complex as the club's official training center,[5] and the team has held preseason training camp in its indoor soccer pitch.[4] In January 2023, the St. James hired former D.C. United head of performance Mateus Manoel as its performance director.[17]

Women's soccer

In May 2019, The St. James purchased local youth soccer club F.C. Virginia, which had been founded in 2005 by Christian Cziommer and fielded a senior team in the Women's Premier Soccer League during the 2006 WPSL season.[18] Cziommer joined The St. James organization after the sale.[19][20]

Washington Spirit controversy and bid
See also: 2021 NWSL abuse scandal

In 2020, professional National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team Washington Spirit's assistant coach Tom Torres left the team. In April 2021, The St. James FC Virginia hired Torres as senior staff coach for its girls' academy. An August 2021 report in The Athletic alleged that Torres' exit was linked to inappropriate behavior at a party following the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.[21]

In August 2021, Spirit coach Richie Burke — who had previously coached FC Virginia and had been accused of using abusive language toward youth players during his tenure there[22][23] — was reassigned to the Spirit's front office. Following the reassignment, The Washington Post published a report containing allegations by former players, including Kaiya McCullough, of racist and abusive behavior by Burke.[24] The Spirit subsequently suspended and launched an investigation into Burke's behavior.[21] The suspension would incite the 2021 NWSL abuse scandal, leading to the permanent banning of Burke and three other NWSL coaches in 2023.[25]

The scandal led to Spirit owner Steve Baldwin announcing that he would sell the Spirit in October 2021.[26][27] In November 2021, The St. James co-founders Ashton and Dixon submitted a bid with Boehly, Eldridge Industries, and investor Jennifer Tepper Mackesy to purchase the Spirit at a valuation of $16 million.[28][29][30] As part of the bid's public announcement in December 2021, The St. James described plans to provide performance services, youth soccer programming, and brand partnerships to the team.[31] Boehly withdrew from the bid in January 2022[32] and Spirit minority owner Y. Michele Kang completed her purchase of the team in March.[33]

Expansion

Chicago metropolitan area

In 2018, Dixon and Ashton described plans to open a second complex in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois in 2021.[12] In February 2018, the organization submitted preliminary plans for a 435,000-square-foot complex on 43 acres in the village of Lincolnshire, Illinois,[34] which began a two-year zoning and architectural review process in August 2018.[35] The village approved the plans in March 2020 following public hearings, zoning and architectural reviews, and public comment. The St. James requested and received a one-year extension for submitting plans on the project in February 2021, citing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's finances.[36] As of January 27, 2021, construction was expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023.[37]

Bethesda, Maryland

In January 2023, The St. James opened a 50,000-square-foot health club and pool in Bethesda, Maryland.[38] The site was formerly a Washington Sports Club location.[39]

References
  1. "The St. James opens Saturday. We take you inside the region's largest sports and entertainment center". Washington Business Journal. September 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  2. Neibauer, Michael (September 6, 2017). "Here's when the mega Springfield indoor sports complex will open, plus a first look inside". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  3. Brady, Erik (September 12, 2018). "This massive sports complex could be a game changer". USA Today. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  4. Goff, Steven. "D.C. United begins training camp with a solid core but some missing pieces". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  5. "DC United Names The St. James Its Official Training Center". Washington Business Journal. April 23, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  6. Beaujon, Andrew (June 1, 2022). "The Washington Football Team You Should Be Rooting For". Washingtonian. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  7. Eshleman, Tina (Spring 2019). "Strong Bonds". W&M Alumni Magazine (published May 3, 2019). pp. 27–33. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  8. Douglas, William (October 12, 2018). "New icemen cometh at ginormous sports facility in Washington Capitals' backyard". The Color of Hockey. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  9. Sullivan, Patricia (August 6, 2013). "Bid to create huge sports complex withdrawn". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  10. "DC United Signs 5-Year Deal With New Springfield Sports Complex". The DC Post. April 25, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  11. Hiatt, Gabe (January 8, 2019). "Inside Spike Mendelsohn's Healthy Restaurant at a 450,000-Square-Foot Sports Complex". Eater. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  12. Soong, Kelyn (September 17, 2018). "The St. James Wants to Be the Center of the Local Fitness Universe". Washington City Paper. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  13. Frank, Noah (May 30, 2018). "The St. James brings two NHL-sized rinks to DC area hockey". WTOP-FM. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  14. El-Bashir, Tarik (October 7, 2022). "Capitals' Backstrom and Carlson families lock in on 'big game' between young sons". The Athletic. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  15. Bahniuk, Cara (September 17, 2018). "Alex Ovechkin drops puck at grand opening of The St. James". RMNB. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  16. Salmon, Mike (May 31, 2018). "Springfield Venue to Attract Up and Coming Pros". Springfield Connection. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  17. Sernovitz, Daniel J. (January 27, 2023). "The St. James recruits former D.C. United trainer Mateus Manoel to bulk up its performance programs". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  18. "USA – Women's Premier Soccer League". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  19. "The St. James acquires FC Virginia, launches soccer academy". SoccerWire (Press release). The St. James. May 7, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  20. "SoccerWire Club Profile: The St. James FC Virginia". SoccerWire. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  21. Linehan, Meg; Maurer, Pablo; Yang, Steph (August 11, 2021). "Washington Spirit suspend Richie Burke, launching investigation". The Athletic. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  22. Goff, Steve (February 25, 2019). "Washington Spirit defends new coach against allegations of verbal abuse". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  23. Yang, Stephanie (February 26, 2019). "Virginia youth player accuses Spirit head coach Richie Burke of mental, verbal abuse". Black And Red United. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  24. Hensley-Clancy, Molly (August 11, 2021). "'He made me hate soccer': Players say they left NWSL's Spirit over coach's verbal abuse". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  25. Radde, Kaitlyn (January 10, 2023). "4 former NWSL coaches are banned permanently following an abuse investigation". National Public Radio. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  26. Young, Ryan (October 15, 2021). "Washington Spirit owner Steve Baldwin selling team after calls from players, scandal". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  27. Hensley-Clancy, Molly (October 14, 2021). "Washington Spirit owner Steve Baldwin says he plans to sell stake in club as NWSL fallout continues". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  28. Yang, Steph; Maurer, Pablo (November 3, 2021). "Washington Spirit in exclusive sale negotiations with The St. James, sources say". The Athletic. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  29. Goff, Steven; Hensley-Clancy, Molly (October 29, 2021). "Billionaire part-owner of Lakers, Dodgers in talks to buy NWSL's Washington Spirit". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  30. Goff, Steven (December 14, 2021). "Todd Boehly, Jennifer Tepper Mackesy in talks to buy Washington Spirit". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  31. "Partnership Led by Jennifer Tepper Mackesy and Todd Boehly Enter Exclusive Negotiations to Finalize Acquisition of NWSL's". Bloomberg (Press release). Business Wire. December 14, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  32. Linehan, Pablo Maurer, Steph Yang, Meg (January 12, 2022). "Todd Boehly withdraws from negotiations to purchase Washington Spirit: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved June 2, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. Hensley-Clancy, Molly (March 30, 2022). "Sale of NWSL's Spirit closes, making history for owner Michele Kang". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  34. Shields, Todd (February 13, 2018). "Lincolnshire officials want specifics as residents voice concerns with proposed rec center, Topgolf venue". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  35. Shields, Todd (August 30, 2018). "St. James sports complex gets Lincolnshire Village Board OK to begin review process". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  36. Megan, Graydon (February 10, 2021). "Lincolnshire to charge residents for leaf service, trustees grant 1-year extension on St. James sports complex project". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  37. Megan, Graydon (January 27, 2021). "Lincolnshire trustees want St. James developers to enclose the construction site they say currently looks like a 'war zone'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  38. Byck, Daniella (January 27, 2023). "The St. James Opens in Bethesda This Weekend". Washingtonian. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  39. Sernovitz, Daniel J. (June 2, 2022). "The St. James sports complex plans first Maryland facility". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
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