CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two factors killed plans to include an aquatics center in the Capital Sports Center planned for Charleston.
Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango said bondholders would not let go of the parking garage property along Lee Street at Town Center Mall and a feasibility study said an aquatics center wouldn’t be feasible.
“I was disappointed, to be honest” Salango, a member of the Capital Sports Complex Development Association Committee, said Thursday on 580Live with Dave Allen on 580-WCHS. “All I can tell you is the mayor (Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin) and I made tremendous efforts to make it happen. I’m not giving up. Just because it failed the first time doesn’t mean it’s over.”
The project is now expected to cost between $60-70 million. The committee is waiting on word on about $17 million in congressional earmarks that have been requested on top of the $2 million already received. The Kanawha County Commission and City of Charleston have allocated $5 million each for the project.
Salango said study after study shows swimming does not bring in as much money as events like volleyball in the travel sports industry.
“I agree a pool is needed. The problem is the pool will not generate the economic impact the other part will,” he said.
That other part, which Salango calls Phase-A, will include courts for basketball, pickleball, volleyball, a full gym, a fitness center, a family entertainment center and other space to attract local residents and visitors. Salango said the space will be joined with space at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center across the street so teams won’t have to leave the downtown Charleston area.
“That’s going to be a large economic driver,” Salango said.
The demolition of the space for Phase-A, the former Macy’s building at Town Center Mall, should be completed soon. Salango said architects will unveil their plans by the end of August with construction to start not long after that.
“As soon as the architects are finished we’re going to start construction. The goal is have it open by the end of 2026, that’s the goal,” Salango said.
Name change
A name change is also coming.
Salango said there are other venues across the country with a similar name.
“We need to be unique. That’s the key to marketing, that’s the key to branding, it needs to be unique. It needs to stand out. We’re working on that,” Salango said.
The Capital Sports Center Committee continues to work with Sports Facilities Inc., a nationwide company which helps design major sports complexes.