XL Sports World Richmond is planning to expand its facilities with a pair of outdoor turf fields. The $3 million project is slated for undeveloped land on the site of the indoor complex. (Jack Jacobs photo)
Two years after launching a youth soccer club, a Chesterfield sports facility is now in the midst of securing county approvals needed to build fields to support the new program.
XL Sports World Richmond is planning to build two outdoor artificial turf fields next to its indoor facility at 2300 Oak Lake Blvd.
The fields would primarily be used by Virginia Velocity FC, a new travel soccer program affiliated with the sports venue.
The fields are anticipated to be playable by the end of the year but possibly sooner, and would be built on the same 11-acre property that’s also home to XL’s 48,000-square-foot facility in the Oak Lake Business Park.
XL is currently seeking zoning approval to allow the $3 million project to proceed, and said the project is mostly for the benefit of Velocity players. Currently, the youth travel club uses fields at the nearby River City Sportsplex and other locations, and having a dedicated home base is seen as a way to enhance the player experience for the young organization, said Sascha Görres, director of soccer at Velocity.
“If you have control over your own field, that gives you a lot of advantages with how you can manage your training schedule,” Görres said. “It certainly is needed if you’re an aspiring club and want to provide a great experience for your membership.”
A conceptual plan of the two-field expansion project being planned by XL Sports. (Courtesy XL Sports)
Velocity was launched in 2023 as a way to provide a higher level of play to complement XL’s existing programming, which includes soccer classes for toddlers and a youth soccer league. The complex also offers an adult soccer league. The outdoor fields are expected to be a rentable space for outside groups when Velocity isn’t using them.
The outdoor fields expansion requires an amendment to the property’s current zoning, which only allowed indoor recreational uses, to expand the permitted uses to include outdoor recreation.
The Chesterfield Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the project last week. The expansion proposal now heads to the Board of Supervisors, which is expected to weigh final approval at a future meeting.
The Chesterfield facility opened more than 20 years ago as Richmond Indoor Sports Experience (RISE). The business was purchased in 2013 by the Florida-based XL company, which has multiple locations around the country. The local complex is primarily focused on soccer but also offers other sports programs.
XL was acquired last year by Sofive Soccer Centers, a New York-based chain of indoor soccer complexes, and the XL locations are expected to be rebranded over time.
XL Sports World Richmond is planning to expand its facilities with a pair of outdoor turf fields. The $3 million project is slated for undeveloped land on the site of the indoor complex. (Jack Jacobs photo)
Two years after launching a youth soccer club, a Chesterfield sports facility is now in the midst of securing county approvals needed to build fields to support the new program.
XL Sports World Richmond is planning to build two outdoor artificial turf fields next to its indoor facility at 2300 Oak Lake Blvd.
The fields would primarily be used by Virginia Velocity FC, a new travel soccer program affiliated with the sports venue.
The fields are anticipated to be playable by the end of the year but possibly sooner, and would be built on the same 11-acre property that’s also home to XL’s 48,000-square-foot facility in the Oak Lake Business Park.
XL is currently seeking zoning approval to allow the $3 million project to proceed, and said the project is mostly for the benefit of Velocity players. Currently, the youth travel club uses fields at the nearby River City Sportsplex and other locations, and having a dedicated home base is seen as a way to enhance the player experience for the young organization, said Sascha Görres, director of soccer at Velocity.
“If you have control over your own field, that gives you a lot of advantages with how you can manage your training schedule,” Görres said. “It certainly is needed if you’re an aspiring club and want to provide a great experience for your membership.”
A conceptual plan of the two-field expansion project being planned by XL Sports. (Courtesy XL Sports)
Velocity was launched in 2023 as a way to provide a higher level of play to complement XL’s existing programming, which includes soccer classes for toddlers and a youth soccer league. The complex also offers an adult soccer league. The outdoor fields are expected to be a rentable space for outside groups when Velocity isn’t using them.
The outdoor fields expansion requires an amendment to the property’s current zoning, which only allowed indoor recreational uses, to expand the permitted uses to include outdoor recreation.
The Chesterfield Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the project last week. The expansion proposal now heads to the Board of Supervisors, which is expected to weigh final approval at a future meeting.
The Chesterfield facility opened more than 20 years ago as Richmond Indoor Sports Experience (RISE). The business was purchased in 2013 by the Florida-based XL company, which has multiple locations around the country. The local complex is primarily focused on soccer but also offers other sports programs.
XL was acquired last year by Sofive Soccer Centers, a New York-based chain of indoor soccer complexes, and the XL locations are expected to be rebranded over time.
This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today!
Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!
For more informaiton, head over to your profile.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
TERMS OF SERVICE:
ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM.
ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.
EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.
FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM
Already a Member? Sign in
Return to Homepage
