Four additional lighted fields open in time for annual Shooting Star Field Hockey Tournament
River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield, Virginia announced today (Nov. 27) the opening of four additional lighted fields, bringing the complex’s total to 16 high-quality turf fields.
As one of the Nation’s most sought-after tournament destinations, River City Sportsplex welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. This expansion to 16 fields will not only meet the residents’ increased demand for athletic field access, but also give tournament operators the opportunity to grow their tournaments and events while increasing the economic impact on the Chesterfield hospitality community.
Funding for the construction of the four new fields was part of the $540 million bond referendum package that was overwhelmingly approved in November 2022. Additional improvements coming in 2025 include: additional parking, a large destination play area with a splash pad and a universal playground, a picnic area, and a 5k trail system. Also included will be restrooms, shade structures at the fields and other amenities for participants and spectators to enjoy.
“It’s so exciting to be opening four additional fields at River City Sportsplex,” said Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider. “This will be a huge asset for the residents of Chesterfield, as well as incoming tournaments. It is just another way that we can showcase Chesterfield as a great place to live, work and play.”
When Chesterfield acquired River City Sportsplex in 2016 for $5.5 million, it took over an unfinished yet fully functional 12-field facility. With the expansion to 16 fields, the complex will continue to provide unprecedented and increased access for its local leagues and residents that utilize the facility week after week.
“Over 90 local cosponsored groups utilized River City Sportsplex, accounting for 63% of the usage in FY24,” said Neil Luther, director of Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation. “Moreover, each of these groups did not have to pay a dime to use the facility due to the impact that events, many of which our local residents play in, have on the weekends.”
The expansion comes just in time for one of the largest tournament weekends of the year in Chesterfield. The Shooting Star Field Hockey Tournament, which sold out within five minutes of registration going live this year, brings in an estimated 7,500 attendees and spectators annually from as far away as California, Colorado, Missouri and Florida, and even two teams from Canada! The tournament has been hosted at River City Sportsplex since 2016, and this year will run Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2024, featuring 250 teams and more than 300 college coaches.
“It’s one of the biggest, best facilities in the country,” said Sam Carlino, field hockey event manager for 3Step Sports. The expansion at River City Sportsplex will allow Massachusetts-based 3Step Sports the ability to have an additional 35-40 teams participate in the tournament, further invigorating the local economy over a holiday weekend, which historically had seen lower occupancy before the field hockey tournament began calling Chesterfield and River City Sportsplex home.
Playing over Thanksgiving weekend “is a thing for field hockey,” said Carlino.
“It’s right after the end of the high school season,” she added. “The players are still in shape and still in field hockey mode, so it’s the best showcase for them. It also allows the players not to miss school, which is another positive.”
River City Sportsplex is at the forefront of the county’s investment into sports tourism. Last year, Chesterfield hosted 160 sports events that had an estimated $79 million economic impact on its hospitality community. Thirty-one of those events were hosted at River City Sportsplex and accounted for 71% of the sports tourism economic impact in Chesterfield.
“Sports tourism may grab the headlines and provide an unprecedented impact on our local community, but more importantly, it provides a home-field advantage for our residents,” said J.C. Poma, Chesterfield’s director of Sports, Visitation, and Entertainment.
“With 35 events planned at River City Sportsplex in 2025 combined with the four-field expansion, we are excited about the impact that the facility will have on our local leagues and residents, as well as the impact it will continue to have on our hotels, restaurants, and attractions.”
Visit www.PlayChesterfield.com to learn more about Chesterfield County’s sports tourism efforts and www.chesterfield.gov/parks to learn more about Chesterfield athletics and recreation.
