Stafford County’s planning commission voted March 25 to advance plans for a new Buc-ee’s. However, a company called The Colosseum Sports Resort is hoping to build a state-of-the-art sports facility and recreation complex on the same site.
Stafford resident Farshid Hakimya is president and CEO of The Colosseum. At a recent virtual town hall, he said that currently, “The land is not owned by the Buc-ee’s. It’s contracted by Buc-ee’s, but with the condition of their approval from the people, from the commission, and also from the board of supervisors.”
Sports Complex Features
Hakimya and his team laid out the plans for the sports complex at the recent town hall meeting. The project would feature 250,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities. It includes Olympic-sized pools; convertible volleyball and basketball courts; an indoor ice rink; turf fields for soccer, lacrosse, and football; pickleball courts; a track; and other training spaces.
In addition to the sports facility, The Colosseum will include a 10,000-seat arena that can be used for sporting events, concerts, and other community gatherings. It will also feature 50,000 square feet of retail and hospitality space, including a variety of dining options, and a 110-room hotel.
Project Benefits
The Colosseum project is estimated to cost $350 million with an anticipated completion date of 2028 or 2029. According to the company, it could generate $25 million in annual tax revenue for the county, create 1,700 to 3,500 construction jobs, and offer 300 to 500 permanent jobs.
At the March 25 meeting, more than 40 people spoke, and many expressed concerns over the traffic impact the Buc-ee’s would have on the area. Hakimyar claims The Colosseum wouldn’t generate as much traffic.
However, the county’s Board of Supervisors voted to rezone the land and approved a conditional-use permit for Buc-ee’s.
Hakimyar said his group has discussed other location options as well, The Fredericksburg Free Press reported. “We definitely have the backup plans for it; you know, our team are working very hard on this,” he said.
Feature image rendering courtesy The Colosseum Sports Resort
