DOVER — The Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund Review Panel is now considering its next round of funding from 17 applicants for $10 million of public funds designed to support projects that draw visitors and support local businesses.
After awarding $11.3 million in capital projects earlier this year, the panel heard proposals for 17 projects throughout the state during its meeting on Oct. 24. This is the second time the fund has been open in two years for projects to draw out-of-state visitors to Delaware. The fund was replenished by the General Assembly, which allocated $10 million through the Bond Bill for fiscal year 2025.
Applications for this new round were accepted by the Delaware Tourism Office through September 13 and initially included 18 applicants, however Winterthur pulled its application seeking support for its Point-to-Point Steeplechase Track. This time, the 17 applicants are seeking $47.1 million in state funds.
The fund is managed by a panel led by Delaware Tourism Director Jessica Welch and includes the three county tourism heads as well as the chair and vice chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee and Delaware Sports Sales Leader Ryan Wolfe. The board makes funding recommendations to the Division of Small Business. During its meeting on Oct. 24, the panel did not make any decisions and offered a quick review of the proposals.
This was the second time seeking financing from this state fund for 10 of the 17 applicants, including Midway Pickleball, Inc. in Rehoboth Beach which had secured $2 million for an indoor sports complex that would include 12 indoor courts, specifically for Pickleball. This is because the project costs have more than tripled, according to an executive summary of the project the Delaware Business Times reviewed through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Other returning applicants were those which did not receive funds from the state, with requests similar or slightly less than what was originally proposed when the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund opened this spring.
Among the new projects seeking the most in state funding was the First State Aquatic Center for a state-of-the-art proposed aquatic facility featuring an 8-lane Olympic pool, an 8-lane short course pool, a zero-depth entry multi-use pool, a diving well, seating for 1,500 spectators and a Ninja Cross Obstacle course. The developers are seeking $10 million for a project that may cost between $20 and $44 million.
New requests include Bethany Club Tennis, which is seeking $3.3 million to build a new facility for interior tennis courts.The entire project is estimated to cost just over $7 million.
The Kirkwood Sports Complex is also seeking $4 million for installing five turf fields and lighting, as well as 300 new parking spots. Buccini/Pollin Group has taken over development rights to the venue for 25 years and has committed to bring $16 million in investment to the site. The project before the review panel is estimated to cost $8 million.
In the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund’s first round, the Chase Fieldhouse received $6 million to build an indoor track facility. The Chase Fieldhouse is managed by BPG Sports, the sports management arm of BPG,
Goldey-Beacom College is also seeking $2 million of a $4 million project seeking to install “a multi-sport synthetic turf field which will accommodate more than 1,000 spectators, complete with a press box and stadium lighting for evening events,” according to the college’s application. Hudson Fields in Milton is also looking to upgrade to turf fields for nine outdoor playing fields, as well as other improvements on seven existing grass fields. Developers are seeking $1,123,000 for the project estimated to cost $2.3 million.
Among the other proposals under consideration are:
- Salesianum’s Abessinio Stadium to resurface the track and field and pave a lot for overflow parking. The project would cost a total of $460,800 with $400,000 of that requested through this fund.
- Dave Marshall Tennis & Pickleball for a new clubhouse at its complex near Lewes, sports courts and necessary equipment which could help accommodate up to 500 visitors. $2 million was requested for the $4 million project.
- Dover Civic Arena for a new sports facility dedicated to ice hockey, indoor lacrosse, wrestling, figure skating, field hockey and volleyball with a parking lot, mechanical equipment, seating, furniture, scoreboard installation and other needs. Between low-interest bonds from the city of Dover, bank loans and partnerships, the project is estimated to cost $8 to $10 million, with $3 million of that requested through the fund.
- Dover Motor Speedway, which has requested $436,993 requested by the Speedway for its $873,985 proposed updates to include paving, elevators, HVAC and a media center with enhanced audio.
- Factory Sports, Inc. in Frankford for improvements to its facility to allow for larger crowds and more frequent tournaments supporting several different sporting ventures, such as basketball, volleyball, pickleball, baseball and more. The group is requesting $458,640 for the $1 million project.
- NBN Sports Academy in Hockessin for bathroom renovations and expansions, elevator installation and the construction of a new parking lot with 180 spaces. The facility currently features a variety of sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, futsal and more. NBN requested $1,357,700 for the $1,857,700 project.
- River Soccer Club in Frankford for the improvement and expansion of its current parking facilities, bringing it up from 500 spaces to 990. The group requested $342,547 for the $685,094 project.
- Sandhill Fields in Georgetown for the installation of LED lighting on two playing fields to allow for evening playtime opportunities. $319,680 was requested for the project estimated to cost $569,680.
- Sports at the Beach in Georgetown for a variety of upgrades, such as air conditioning for the indoor sports facility for pickleball players, new netting and cages for 30 batting cages and artificial turf on 16 ballfields. Project leaders also hope to resurface its 21 year old parking lot and install an inclusive playground, family restrooms and beer garden. The application states the project will cost $9 million, of which $8.4 million was requested.
- Sussex Academy of Arts and Science in Georgetown for the construction of a state of the art 8-lane track and turf fields. The application requests funding for construction only at $2,500,000, citing total project costs at $7,803,036.54.
- University of Delaware’s Rullo Stadium for a revitalization of the campus’s field hockey facility. The university is seeking $2 million for the $3 million project.
Applicants, including Dover Motor Speedway President and General Manager Michael Tatoian and its Director of Public Relations Gary Camp, were given a few minutes each to share the importance of their application with panelists who will vote on the projects during a future meeting.
Delaware Tourism Office Director Jessica Welch said that while some applications, like the one presented by the already-established Speedway, aren’t focused on establishing a new project, they are still important to improving economic drivers at play in the First State.
“It might not be what we all think about when it comes to tourism, but I know it’s always in the back of our minds that NASCAR could pull their race at any moment,” she said of the importance of events that find their ways to the state’s capital.
According to Tatoian, the Speedway was built via private financing in 1967 and, “aside from this opportunity, we’ve never requested state money to upgrade, but it becomes more and more difficult financially. . .” to maintain its facility located on about 800 acres of property which includes about 100 acres of asphalt.
“What you have in front of you is a[n application for a] portion of the asphalt that is in dire need of repair whether it’s for the car show, fan zone or general parking,” he said during the meeting, citing wear and tear on areas of the asphalt that are outside of the track itself.
Of visitors that visit the Dover venue throughout the year, only about 11% comes from Delaware, he added, emphasizing the organization’s broad reach and the tourism impact the Speedway continues to have in the First State.
The next Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund Review Panel meeting has not yet been scheduled as of Nov. 13, according to Delaware’s public meeting calendar.
