St. James sports complex set to open Sept. 1

The field house at the St. James could be used for soccer, lacrosse, and other sports.

The huge St. James sports complex under construction on Industrial Drive in Springfield is scheduled to open Sept. 1. Much work still needs to be done, as we saw on a hard-hat tour June 6.

The facility will have two ice hockey rinks; a large field for soccer and other sports; a huge basketball court area, Olympic-size pool, water park, squash courts, golf simulators, “hitting house,” three-level fitness center, entertainment center, spa, restaurant, retail store, and more.

One of two ice rinks under construction.

Five hundred memberships have been sold so far. The goal is 1,500 by the time the facility opens, said Sales Ambassador Ahmad Mahmood. The majority of members are families with kids and are mostly from the surrounding area, although there are a few from D.C. and Maryland.

The top level of the health club will have cardio machines, an open area for yoga and Pilates, and studios for classes. The two lower levels will have weight training and more fitness machines.

Sports leagues are already forming. The St. James held tryouts last weekend for youth hockey travel teams for players under age 10, U12, and U14. They will play teams from other leagues in the D.C. region and possibly across the nation. The St. James will also have house teams.

The Olympic-size swimming pool will be eight-feet deep. It will be used for lap swimming, water aerobics, swim lessons, coaching, and competitions. It will have diving blocks but no diving boards. The water park will be at the far end of the pool.

Basketball tryouts will be held this summer. Other teams will be formed for youths, adults, and adults over 40 for soccer, lacrosse, and whatever other sports and age groups there is demand for, Mahmood says. Team members don’t have to be from households that are members of the St. James, but if they are, they will get a 20 percent discount on team registrations.

The NCAA-size basketball court could be converted to nine volleyball courts.

An adult membership is $239 plus $169 a month after the first month, which covers access to the pool, health club, fitness classes, childcare, lockers, and other benefits. Access to the squash courts and spa can be added for additional monthly charges. Members get discounts for sports teams, spa treatments, and the entertainment center.

There are several categories of membership, including, couples, students, and military/first responders. Members pay less if they agree to a 12-month commitment.

There will be seven squash courts, including a glass-enclosed championship court.

Several features, including the water park, active entertainment center, hitting house, squash courts, and golf simulators, will be open to the public on a pay-as-you-go basis. The entertainment center will have a zip line, climbing wall, virtual reality, nerf battle games, and party rooms.

The yet-to-be named restaurant, under the direction of executive chef Spike Mendlesohn, will have everything from fine dining with a full bar to quick meals on the go, health-conscious items like protein shakes, and kids’ meals. Mendlesohn developed several restaurants in D.C., including Good Stuff Eatery; Santa Rosa Taqueria; and We, The Pizza.

The “hitting house” will have baseball batting cages and pitching machines.

The spa will offer an array of services – manicures, pedicures, facials, botox treatments, laser hair removal, and massages – but not hair styling.

MedStar Health is partnering with the St. James to offer a center for physical therapy and injury rehabilitation on the top floor. It is scheduled to open Jan. 1, 2019.

The exterior of the building is nearly complete.

The St. James has a new general manager, Robert Kram, the former director of programming and content. The previous general manager, Joel Paige, left in May for a new position as managing director of the Landsdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg.