Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany III said he believes a facility such as this would create jobs and generate tax revenue for Newport News.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — What amenities would you like to see at a sports and event center? That’s the question Newport News city leaders posed to residents Thursday night.
The city hosted an open house meeting to discuss the possibility of building a center and to get feedback from residents on what they think the facility should include, if it were to be greenlit for construction.
Community members at the meeting told 13News Now they were excited by the idea of a new sports facility.
“I really hope this happens. We need this,” said resident Dione James.
The city’s vice mayor, Curtis Bethany III, is spearheading the initiative. He believes a facility could be a valuable addition to the community and to the city’s economy.
“We’re talking about tax revenue generation. We’re talking about job creation. All of those impacts and those pros come with sports facilities, or sports in general. I would want to see those dollars in Newport News,” said Bethany.
Bethany said the city of Newport News has partnered with the Sports Facilities Company to explore the logistics of the project. The open house explored potential locations, facility types and amenities that would best serve residents, local athletes, and eventgoers.
Thursday’s meeting was a chance for community members to engage and exchange ideas with city officials about the proposed facility.
“Newport News, which should and always will be a hub for military and economic growth, but now it could be a tourism area because now we’ll have something to talk about,” said Ivey Hawkins, president of the Newport News Hospitality Association.
Hawkins said a sports facility would keep hotels and restaurants in the area full of business. Commonwealth’s Attorney for Newport News, Howard Gwynne, said this new facility could also help to diminish crime.
“I’m fully in support of it. If you give kids, specifically, more things to do, the more time they’re occupied, the less time they have to get in trouble,” said Gwynne.
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