SportsQuest
| Former names | ACTS- Athletes Complete Training Source |
|---|---|
| Location | Chesterfield, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°27′28″N 77°38′41″W / 37.457674°N 77.644608°WCoordinates: 37°27′28″N 77°38′41″W / 37.457674°N 77.644608°W |
| Opened | outdoor fields are open and operational. |
SportsQuest founder Steve Burton proposed in December 2008 to create an Olympic-style sports village in Chesterfield County, Virginia. One of the stated goals was to build a 5,000 to 6,000-seat indoor multi-purpose arena. Once completed it would serve as a vehicle to house multiple sports events throughout the year. The Richmond Revolution of the Indoor Football League, was touted as one of the major clients which would make its home at the facility. However, the football team was disbanded at the end of the 2011 season. In 2012 SportsQuest was liquidated. The largest creditor, Shaw Industries assumed ownership and its subsidiary, Sports Complex Holdings, manages the facility and land.
External links
Media coverage
Richmond BizSense Aaron Kremer (5/22/12) writes "at 1:30 today, Shaw Industries took control of SportsQuest, the 120-acre turf field complex in Chesterfield County, by credit bidding at a foreclosure auction on the steps of the Circuit Court."
Richmond Times Dispatch Jeremy Slaton (5/22/12) reports that SportsQuest was auctioned off 5/22/12. The winner of the auction was Shaw Industries, the company that provided the sport's center artificial turf. Shaw Industries purchase included 115 acres for nearly $4.3 million and an additional five acres for about $450,000. There were no other bidders.
Richmond Times Dispatch Zachary Reid (3/2/12) reports "On Wednesday, the clerk of the court in Chesterfield County recorded liens from the Timmons Group claiming it is owed money for surveying, engineering and design work on three parts of the SportsQuest campus in Chesterfield. The liens are for $94,516.25 for work on the 114.9-acre east campus; $131,809.17 for work on a 57.2-acre part of the west campus; and $56,489.65 for work on a 29.8-acre portion of the west campus."
Richmond BizSense's Aaron Kremer (2/28/12) reports that Sportsquest was evicted Monday from the building that housed its basketball court and weight-lifting facility.
Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Zachary Reid (2/14/12) follows up on the ramifications of the Commonwealth's lawsuit against Sportsquest. Richmond Indoor Sports Experience (RISE), which has a facility on Oak Lake Boulevard near the SportsQuest complex has cut its business ties with SportsQuest. Christopher Robinson in a news release emailed to RISE members over the weekend wrote, in part, "I would like to take this opportunity to clarify what you may have seen in the news recently involving SportsQuest and to ensure our patrons that this situation does not, and will not, impact your experience at RISE."
Richmond Times Dispatch Zachary Reid (2/10/12)reports that the "Office of Consumer Affairs at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services began investigating SportsQuest in December 2010 after it received complaints that SportsQuest was selling fitness center memberships without disclosing when the facility would be built."
In a message to its membership Steve Burton, CEO and founder of Sportsquest, responded to the news of the Commonwealth's lawsuit by stating that the organization would be split into three separate enterprises with two of the new business up for sale.
Here is part of the message Steve Burton posted on Sportsquest Blog.
"During the past two years we have been informed by the local as well as national business investment community that our project would be more appealing if it was reconfigured to be three, smaller, single-focus business units versus its original multi-focused enterprise. Guided by that insight, we have worked diligently over the past few months to institute the organizational changes required to effect that change. The resulting three businesses are Events (conducting tournaments and daily programming on the East Campus fields), the Academy (a residential and after-school sports training program) and Memberships (the fitness center and participation in a wide range of recreational sports)
The immediate positive impact of the revised structure is encouraging. Two groups are now engaged in separate acquisitions of two of the businesses: the Academy and Membership. Its seems likely that these transactions will close in the weeks ahead. The net result will be a more sharply focused business with new ownership. We are also actively engaged in discussions with three parties who have a strong interest in working collectively to acquire the Events business and drive this forward. This process will likely take a few months to bring to a close given the larger overall scope of the transaction."
Richmond BizSense reported on (2/9/12) that the Commonwealth of Virginia, ex rel. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, attorney general has filed suit against SportsQuest LLC; and Western Surety Co. The Commonwealth petitioned the court to declare that the activities in which the defendant, SportsQuest, has engaged constitute violations of the Virginia Health Spa Act (VHSA) and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The Commonwealth says the defendant agreed in November 2011 to bring itself into compliance, but has failed to live up to the prepayment contract refund and reporting obligations of the agreement.
Richmond BizSense's Aaron Kremer (2/09/12) reported that SportsQuest has been sued by the Commonwealth of Virginia for misleading marketing practices related to the sale of memberships to a fitness club that Sportsquest has failed to build.
CBS (WTVR 6) News Reporter Shelby Brown (2/1/12) reports WTVR.com obtained paperwork from Circuit Court in Chesterfield that show J.E. Liesfeld Contractor, Inc. placed a mechanics lien on Jan 25 against Sportsquest. Liesfield is seeking $497,057.26 for land improvement work done at the facility.
Richmond Times Dispatch writer Zachary Reid (2/1/12) reported J.E. Liesfeld Contractor on Jan. 25 filed a lien against Sportsquest. The third of its kind since June and brings the total amount of unpaid work listed in pending mechanic's liens by three separate companies against SportsQuest to $766,583.26. There's also a judgment against the sports complex for unpaid landscaping bills of more than $16,700.
Chesterfield Observer article mentions SportsQuest as being delinquent ($74,543) on Chesterfield county property taxes.
Chesterfield Observer's Nancy Nusser (12/28/11) mentions Sportsquest's contribution to tourism.
Chesterfield Observer senior writer Donna C Gregory (12/14/11) writes "Sportsquest Moving Forward CEO says".
Richmond Times Dispatch writer Zachary Reid (12/11/2011) reports "Sportsquest Still Chasing Goal".
Chesterfield Observer writer Greg Pearson (11/9/11) reports "Soccer clubs to use Sportsquest fields Nov 28-March 1".
Richmond BizSense Aaron Kremer (10/25/11) reports that South Dakota firm Daktronics has filed a mechanics lien against Sportquest in the amount of $173,000 for failure to pay for the installed scoreboards at the outdoor fields.
Richmond BizSense Aaron Kremer (8/25/11) writes about Sportsquest delinquency problems.
Chesterfield Observer's Gwen Sadler (2/23/11) "Sportsquest President, Phil Evans Resigns"
Style Weekly's Scott Bass (8/4/2010) provides behind the scene details between Sportsquest's CEO Steve Burton and Chesterfield county's economic development manager Garrett Hart. Before Chesterfield county writes a check for $4.3 million to lease the turf fields Sportsquest is required to secure $30 million in federal stimulus bond.
Style Weekly's Scott Bass (2/17/10) looks at how Steve Burton plans to finance the $250 million sports complex in Chesterfield county. "Burton has produced no documentation that he has the finances or the wherewithal to build his $250 million, 250-acre sports complex near Brandermill."
RichmondBizSense's Aaron Kremer (2/8/2010) writes a lengthy critique of Sportsquest detailing how Burton faces more pressure now that costs are ramping up. "He was spending about $250,000 in 2008, according to an executive summary circulated to investors. But now he is spending more, with billboards up and radio advertisements playing all over town."
Richmond BizSense writer Greg Pearson (9/17/2009) Steve Burton told members of the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce last week that “The real meat and potatoes of SportsQuest is recreational sports — to get healthy.” According to Mr. Burton the proposed center will encompass facilities for 27 sports including 30 outdoor, lighted soccer fields, a swimming pool and ice rink, a velodrome for cycling, a 5,000-seat arena, 7,000-seat outdoor stadium and a 2,500-seat amphitheatre for concerts. It will also sport 20,000 square feet of retail, a hotel to be used by out-of-town athletes for extended stays, a family entertainment center (with bowling, arcades, laser tag and “cybersport courts”) and health-care facilities centered on sports. http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2009/09/17/groundbreaking-planned-for-mega-sports-complex/
Richmond Times Dispatch writer Paul Woody (6/24/09) article on Indoor Football League plans for team in Richmond.
Chesterfield Observer Gwen Sadler (5/13/09) Sportsquest adds 200 acres of land to its current 50 acres so that the company may build an outdoor tournament complex.
Richmond Times Dispatch writer Wesley P Hester (2/28/09) article "SportsQuest planning pro teams for Chesterfield facility"
Chesterfield Observer Greg Pearson (1/28/09) Chesterfield Planning Commission approves 50 acre sports complex at Waterford Industrial Park. Steve Burton, CEO Sportsquest, states that in three years the entire complex will be completed allowing a variety of recreational sports and family entertainment. The complex is expected to cost $100 million.
Richmond Times Dispatch reporters Fred Jeter and Wesley P. Hester (12/24/08) write that Chesterfield's Department of Economic Development announced yesterday that an Olympic facility is to be built at Route 288 and Powhite Parkway. Economic Development Director E. Wilson Davis Jr., who noted that the facility could generate 500 new jobs for the county said. "We're evaluating what the impact will be on the county, and how we will participate."
The project is the brainchild of Steve Burton, CEO and chairman of SportsQuest. Burton stated that he will provide a large portion of the startup cost of the project with equity. He also said that "he is negotiating a loan from Bank of America and help from Olympic sponsors. He would not, however, discuss specific financial partners."