Sports & Recreation

Panel: Sports add boost for July tourism market

Sports Tourism

A group of government officials, hoteliers, restaurateurs and other business leaders gathered Friday in Brandermill to discuss sports tourism’s impact on Richmond businesses and the regional economy.

Sports Backers’ Lugbill preps for ride to nation’s capital

John Lugbill

“Ultimately, when you’re advocating with elected officials, it shouldn’t be all about what they’re doing wrong or trying to push for change. Some of it is talking about what they’ve done right and getting out and enjoying it with them, so this is one way to do that.”

Gym finds better fit in Ashland

Freedom Fit

On the heels of its one-year anniversary, a fitness startup has pressed into a new location.

Sports site breaks off from Chester newspaper

Gamebreak website homepage

Linked by a love of sports, a business manager, a veteran sportswriter and a social media junkie are calling the plays at a startup news site focused on local high school athletics. RVA GameBreak, launched last fall by Elliott Fausz and Josh Mathews of Chester’s Village News, has brought in Thomas Dozier as a third… Read more »

Uphoff’s bowling venture striking into China

Steve Uphoff and Mr

Steve Uphoff is rolling further into the Far East. Backed by a new set of Chinese investors, the local businessman and founder of bowling alley chain Uptown Alley announced plans last week to open 15 locations for the brand in China over the next five years, a more aggressive expansion than Uphoff announced in 2014… Read more »

Struggling riverfront golf club weighed for development, conservation

riversbendsign

There may finally be a light at the end of the fairway for a down-on-its-luck local golf course. Several deals are on the table to salvage and transform parts of River’s Bend Golf Club in Chester, including potentially selling the bulk of its riverfront land to a developer, conserving that land, and revamping the remaining… Read more »

NASCAR team sees rush of local logos

HenricoRaceCar ftd

As the Sprint Cup Series roars into Richmond this weekend, more locally based companies are catching a ride with NASCAR. Three cars in this Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 will be sporting the logos of six Richmond-based sponsors, including E.J. Wade Construction, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, private security services firm RMC Events, frozen yogurt chain SweetFrog,… Read more »

Real estate agent feeling the burn in Short Pump

burnbootcamp

A local real estate agent’s new side business will bring another out-of-town fitness franchise to Richmond. Jonathan Ceaser of Keller Williams is working to open Burn Boot Camp, a gym chain that caters to women, to 3406 Pump Road at Short Pump Crossing. Ceaser has a lease on a 4,000-square-foot space that was previously home… Read more »

Air sports park swinging into Short Pump

boomerang

Short Pump has shopping. It has restaurants. Now a local developer wants to bring trampolines, zip lines and climbing walls to the busy commercial district. An investor group that includes local development firm Stanley Shield Partnership is planning a 40,000-square-foot adventure sports facility at 205 Towne Center West Boulevard, just west of Short Pump Town… Read more »

Topgolf taking aim at Richmond

driving range

A fast-growing chain of high-tech driving ranges could soon land in the Richmond market. Topgolf, a Texas-based company known to spend upwards of about $25 million on its three-story golf and entertainment facilities, is on a rapid nationwide expansion plan and confirmed last week that it has Richmond on its list of potential markets. “We… Read more »