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Solid government relations work puts Sportsplex on solid ground
The City of Virginia Beach built and managed the Virginia Beach Sportsplex for a decade without a resident team and few events to brag about. Most events did not require tickets, and those that did had disappointing attendance. The city lost approximately half-a-million dollars in operating costs each year.
Seeing this multi-million dollar facility being underused and not properly marketed and managed, a group of investors led by local restaurateur Chuck Thornton approached the Rourk Government Relations agency with their vision.
Brian Kirwin worked with Thornton to develop a plan that would be agreeable to the Virginia Beach Planning Commission, City Staff, and City Council, and meet all their varying requirements. If ever there was a big-ticket idea that wouldn’t make it through all the rickets, this was it.
After countless hours of meetings arranged by our government relations agency with City Council members, City Manager Jim Spore, the City Attorney, City Parks and Recreation and many other key players, the plan to turn City control of the Sportsplex over to a private management company headed by Thornton, went to vote.
City Council approved the proposal by a 9-1 vote.
Kirwin also helped orchestrate the land and facility lease to Thornton’s group virtually free of charge.
About Rourk Government Relations
The Rourk Government Relations agency is expert at government relations, community relations and media relations, and serves clients in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Hampton Roads, and throughout Virginia.
For a no-cost phone consultation, feel free to call David Rourk at (757) 478-0150. |
