Frederica's DE Turf Sports Complex says they are ahead of schedule, and are hoping to be ready for winter activities, and a big showcase on Easter Weekend.

The 84-acre, state of the art facility already has six of the twelve synthetic fields finished each with a price tag around $1 million.

Those fields figure to be worn in nicely by the Shooting Star Field Hockey Showcase on Easter Weekend 2017. Last year's event took place at the River City Sportsplex in Richmond, Virginia, featuring more than 150 teams and attracting 175 college coaches to scout the prospective collegiate athletes.

Shooting Star figures to be the first of many events heading to Frederica, as DE Turf Executive Director Chris Giacomucci announced three regional leaders will head the programs for major sports featured at the complex.

Joe Brown, Head Coach of Padua Academy's state-championship winning soccer program, will lead the soccer movement at DE Turf. His experience includes coaching the Delaware Wizards' professional soccer team and also training more than 50 professional players on clubs in the MLS and internationally.

Three-Time Olympian Rachel Dawson will work with the field hockey programs. She was on the US Field Hockey team in Rio, and was the 2007 National Field Hockey Player of the Year.

Former Blue Hen Jay Motta will serve as the Director of Lacrosse. After graduating from Delaware, Motta played in Major League Lacrosse, and has worked with the University of Dealware and co-founded Pro Lacrosse, LLC.

When finished, DE Turf will feature lighted fields, an indoor multi-purpose room, and a 700-seat stadium.

Giacomucci says the complex will bring a ton of opportunity to the area economically.

"The National Association of Sports Commissions puts out studies every year that have ranged from up to 8 billion dollars spent on youth sports and here in Delaware were in the center point of the center point of the Mid Atlantic, the hot beds of soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. As an opportunity to increase hotel occupancy rates for the Dover, Milford corridor, as well as generate revenue for all of our local restaurants and businesses."

The new facility is expected to pump $18 million into the local economy annually. Work on the project began this year after years of planning.

 

Source : wdel.com

Report Abuse