Chesterfield leaders break ground on new outdoor soccer fields

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - Outside Sofive Soccer Center in Chesterfield, several people put their shovels into dirt to break ground on two new outdoor turf fields, which will serve as the future home of Virginia Velocity FC.

Inside the soccer center, county leaders and players gathered to celebrate the milestone.

“Groundbreakings are always so exciting because they represent more than just new construction, they represent growth, opportunity, and the investment in the future and the community,” said Jessica Schneider, who represents the Clover Hill district on the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.

The plot of land will soon transform into two fully lit 11x11 outdoor turf fields.

Sascha Goerres, the executive director of Virginia Velocity, said this plan has been in the works for three years.

“Starting the fall season, this will be our home base,” he said. “Most of our games will be played here.”

The goal behind the project is to expand opportunities for players across the area.

“Our membership is growing, there’s demand for more people to join Virginia Velocity,” he said.

A vision becoming reality as the soccer club enters the national spotlight.

“There’s different youth leagues, but one of the biggest ones and the most elite youth development league is called MLS NEXT, so we just got accepted into the league for next season,” said Goerres. “It will allow our older-aged players to get more in front of college scouts, so they can continue playing after leaving Virginia Velocity.”

The extra space is also creating more room for teams to play, which J.C. Poma, who serves as the director of sports, visitation and entertainment in Chesterfield, said can be an economic driver for the county.

“Every field you add can add eight to ten more teams coming to the area,” he said. “When people come from outside the area to play Virginia Velocity, that creates economic impact. People go eat at the Chipotle, grab their coffee at Starbucks. It’s the whole ecosystem of tourism.”

The fields are slated to open in July, a place Goerres hopes will connect Chesterfield in a new way.

“Allow more families to be part of it, share experiences, have more relationships with each other, spend more time here is basically why we’re doing all of this,” he said.