Key Takeaways
- The 200,000 square-foot Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center carries an $80M price tag, with 100% of construction costs covered by public funds tied to a 1% regional retail sales tax.
- KemperSports has already booked 58 events through year-end, with the venue projected to generate roughly $2.44M in operating revenue in its first full year.
- The facility converts from 12 basketball courts to 24 volleyball courts or 36 pickleball courts, and holds the largest contractable turf system in the U.S.
- KemperSports now operates 20 youth sports facilities nationwide, with five more in development totaling $250M.
- A January SBJ analysis found $900M in youth and amateur venues scheduled to open in 2026, the second straight year at that level.
A Public Build With a Private Operator
The city of Williamsburg, James City County, York County and KemperSports hold a ribbon cutting Wednesday for the Greater Williamsburg Sports & Events Center, a 200,000 square-foot facility built at a cost of $80M.
The funding structure is notable for how little private capital sits in the construction stack. The city of Williamsburg covers 64% of construction costs, approximately $2.5M annually. The Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority handles the remaining 36%, roughly $1.5M annually. Both draw on revenue from a 1% regional retail sales tax to cover their shares.
Operating costs fall to the two counties, estimated at $400,000 each in the first year and climbing to as much as $800,000 each annually after that. KemperSports operates the building under that public-private framework, handling staffing, food and beverage, marketing and event coordination.
Built for Conversion
The venue is designed around flexibility. Its court system reconfigures from 12 basketball courts into 24 volleyball courts or 36 pickleball courts, letting operators match the floor to demand across sports and tournament formats.
It also features what KemperSports describes as the largest contractable turf system in the U.S., with room for one full-size football field and three indoor soccer fields. That range positions the building to host flag football, soccer, and field-based tournaments alongside the hardcourt slate.
The first major booking is the Coastal Women’s Flag Football Tournament, scheduled for Aug. 28-30.
The Revenue Math
KemperSports presented financial projections to the HTRFA Board of Directors in April. The company expects approximately $2.44M in operating revenue during the first full year of operation.
One-third of that total is projected to come from food and beverage sales. That figure rests on an $8 per cap spend across 106,940 projected visitors, a reminder that concessions economics, not just rentals, drive the operating model at venues this size.
With 58 events already booked through the end of the year, the facility enters operation with a base of activity rather than a cold-start calendar.
KemperSports Expands Its Municipal Portfolio
The Williamsburg opening adds to a growing book of business for KemperSports in the public-private facility space. Through partnerships with municipalities across the country, the company now operates 20 youth sports facilities, with five more in development representing $250M in combined investment.
The expansion comes alongside industry recognition. Last fall, SBJ named KemperSports one of its Best Places to Work in Sports.
The Williamsburg project also fits a broader construction wave. SBJ research published in January found that $900M in youth and amateur sports venues were scheduled to open in 2026, the second consecutive year at that level, including six projects priced at $60M or more.
What the Williamsburg Model Tests
Williamsburg offers a clear case study in fully tax-funded construction paired with private operation. The municipalities absorb the capital and the ongoing operating risk, while KemperSports supplies the booking engine, the F&B program, and the event pipeline.
The first full year of revenue data, especially whether the $8 per cap and 106,940-visitor assumptions hold, will tell operators and local governments watching similar deals whether the projections were conservative or optimistic. For a sector adding hundreds of millions in new venues annually, those early returns carry weight well beyond the Historic Triangle.
Source: SportsBusinessJournal, David Broughton, June 24, 2026
Image: GWSEC
YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.
About Youth Sports Business Report
What is YSBR? Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis in the United States. Founded by Cameron Korab, YSBR is the premier B2B publication dedicated to the $54 billion youth sports market. With over 50,000 followers and millions of monthly views and impressions, YSBR publishes daily across its blog, weekly newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Substack.
What does YSBR cover? YSBR delivers original reporting, market intelligence, and business analysis across youth sports facilities, sponsorship and brand partnerships, private equity and venture capital investments, NIL policy and compliance, coaching development, sports technology platforms, equipment and apparel innovation, tournaments and events, community sports initiatives, and parent resources. YSBR is read by industry executives, facility operators and developers, institutional investors, league administrators, sports technology founders, and youth sports parents who rely on accurate, sourced reporting to make informed business decisions.
Who reads YSBR? YSBR is read by youth sports industry executives, institutional investors, facility operators and developers, brand and sponsorship professionals, league administrators, youth sports parents, and sports business professionals shaping the future of youth athletics.
Subscribe to Youth Sports HQ, the largest and most trusted newsletter covering the business of youth sports. Thousands of industry leaders rely on Youth Sports HQ for curated news, analysis, and business intelligence delivered weekly. Youth Sports HQ is the most-read newsletter in the youth sports business space.
Looking for your next role in youth sports? Visit the YSBR Youth Sports Job Board, the most comprehensive job listing destination for careers in youth sports. Browse open positions across facility management, league operations, coaching, sports technology, marketing, and more from organizations hiring across the $54 billion youth sports industry.
Follow Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) across platforms: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | Substack
Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
Introducing Vertical Sports, an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level.
About Vertical Sports
Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Our mission is to simplify and navigate the ecosystem for clients. Complete visibility. Optimal paths. Maximum efficiency. EVERY FAN. EVERY LEVEL.
Why Sponsor Youth Sports?
Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty. Youth sports sponsorship is one of the fastest-growing segments in sports marketing, giving brands the ability to connect with families at the local, regional, and national level.
Are you a brand looking to invest in youth sports? Please reach out to info@verticalsports.us.
Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing
Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?
We have answers. Reach out to info@verticalsports.us to learn how Vertical Sports can help your brand navigate the sports marketing landscape.
If you are a youth sports organization interested in sponsor or partnership opportunities please reach out to learn about our accreditation process.
