Bon Secours Washington Redskins training center expected to be ready by June 30

Published May 20, 2013 by Paula C. Squires

The Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond is about 80 percent complete and is expected to ready by June 30, several weeks before the beginning of summer training camp on July 25, officials said Monday during a media preview of the facility. “A June 30 completion date is well within our grasp,” said Mark Hourigan, president of Hourigan Construction, the project’s general contractor.

Mounds of red clay and men on earthmovers flanked the entrance to the two-story, concrete and glass building, located on 17 acres of state-owned land at 2401 West Leigh Street, near the Science Museum of Virginia.  The 40,000-square-foot building will house the Redskins locker room and training facilities on the first floor and Bon Secours Sports Medicine on the second floor, along with space that will be available to lease.

“This project is on schedule and on time,” declared Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones to a group of about 120 members of the media who turned out for a hard-hat tour.  The yellow goal posts on the two football fields are up, and sod for the fields was installed last week. 

According to the city, it took 215,000 square yards of sod for the two full-size fields and one drill field.

The Richmond Economic Development Authority is building the $10.8 million facility, and Bon Secours has committed to a 10-year sponsorship package that includes $3.2 million for the naming rights. The camp, which will run for three weeks from July 25 through Aug. 16, is expected to attract more than 100,000 fans and reap an economic impact of $8.5 million annually. 

Admission is free with the highlight of the season expected to be Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 3.

Asked if Richmond would have enough hotel rooms and parking for the expected large crowds, Mayor Jones responded that the metro area offers 17,000 hotel rooms, and that local businesses are looking forward to the opportunities that should come with increased tourism from the camp.  The city plans to use shuttles to get people to and from parking lots if necessary.

Just don’t expect to see too many of the players goofing off around town. Bruce Allen, executive vice president and general manager of the Redskins, said in an interview with the press that “camp starts at 6 a.m., and it goes until 10 p.m. at night. Being in the same hotel, living together. It creates a strong bond. Only four Super Bowl winners didn’t have a camp for summer training,” noted Allen.

Allen called the camp’s location “perfect.  We’re centrally located and 500 miles from most of the country’s population, which makes the camp accessible to our fans.”

As for quarterback Robert Griffin’s ability to participate in summer camp training following a knee injury earlier this year, Allen said it was too early to tell. “He’s doing everything the doctors want him to do. He’s a hard worker,” Allen added, and the team is hoping he will be able to play.  Allen said Griffin will be given a physical prior to the start of camp to see if he is ready to play.  The Redskins’ star quarterback also plans to be married on July 6.
 
During the 48 weeks when camp is not in session, Peter J. Bernard, CEO , Bon Secours, Virginia Health System, said the facility would be used to bring new community education and health programs to the community such as a program called “movin mania,” an initiative designed to combat childhood obesity.  There also will be a sports medicine rehabilitation and men’s health center on the property year-round.

Hourigan Construction broke ground on the project Jan. 9. 

The architect on the project is 3North and the Timmons Group.