St. James sports complex to open in September 2018
 |
| Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Craig Dixon, co-founder and co-CEO of The St. James sports complex, at the groundbreaking ceremony. |
The huge St. James sports and wellness complex will bring two ice hockey rinks, a swimming pool, soccer field, climbing wall, spa, recreational facilities and much more to Mason District.
Construction is underway on the 450,000-square foot facility, being developed by Kendrick Ashton and Craig Dixon in partnership with Cain International, on Industrial Road in Springfield, near the intersection of Interstate 95 and the beltway. The facility is projected to open in September 2018.
 |
| A rendering of the indoor water park. |
At a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 7, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova, said the project fits in with the county’s economic and strategic plan to promote healthy lifestyles and repurpose industrial and commercial spaces.
 |
| This is what the building will look like. |
Supervisor Penny Gross called it a huge investment for Mason District and Fairfax County. The St. James company acquired the 20-acre site from Washington Gas & Light Co. for $20.35 million last year.
“It’s huge for kids who want to be involved in sports,” said Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin at the groundbreaking. “I wish I had this kind of facility when I was a little kid.”
 |
| The building is expected to be completed in 2018. |
Sports venues at the St. James center include:
- A field house with a FIFA regulation-sized turf field and 65-foot roof clearances for soccer and other sports.
- An ice house with two NHL regulation-sized ice rinks for all ice sports and a hockey skills training center that includes rapid shot and rapid hands skills training systems and a skating treadmill.
- A court house with four full-length basketball courts that convert into nine volleyball courts.
- A pool house with a 50-meter Olympic size competition pool for all water sports.
- A hitting house with six batting cages and pitching machines for baseball and softball that converts into a multipurpose training venue.
- A squash and golf center with eight international regulation-sized squash singles courts and seven golf simulators.
- A high-performance center with 10,000 square feet of elite strength, explosiveness, and agility conditioning and training equipment housed within a 50,000-square foot premium health club.
- A gymnastics training center with a competition spring floor, deep foam training pits, Tumbl Trak, rod floors, and in-ground trampolines.
- A 3,000-square foot, three-story area for climbing and bouldering.
 |
| The field house. |
“Our aim is to be the center of the universe for active people and sports and wellness enthusiasts of all ages,” said co-founder Kendrick Ashton. “Whether it’s a 5-year-old being introduced to the joys of sports, a 15-year-old pushing to make varsity, or a 45-year-old striving to improve her performance in each stage of a triathlon, we want to provide every tool necessary for everyone to go as far as their talents and desires will take them, and enjoy themselves while doing it.”
 |
| The ice rink. |
The St. James complex will offer the following health, wellness, and recreational experiences:
- A premium health club with 50,000 square feet of state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment, spinning, group fitness and yoga rooms, a 10,000-square foot high-performance training center, locker rooms, and childcare.
- A health and sports medicine center providing non-emergency healthcare services, sports medicine, sports performance training, and rehabilitation.
- An active entertainment center with 20,000 square feet of dynamic obstacle courses, zip lines, climbing structures, trampoline zones, virtual reality, a gaming theater, and party rooms.
- An indoor water park with 6,000 square feet of slides, massive water-dumping buckets, long-distance sprayers, and other water-based play features.
- A spa and rejuvenation center offering massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, and a cryotherapy chamber.
- A restaurant and market café to feature a yet-to-be named celebrity chef.
- A performance boutique with sneakers, performance-oriented apparel, technology, equipment, and St. James-branded clothing.
 |
| A rendering of the interior spaces. |
The facility will offer youth and adult sports development and training programs, individual instruction, personal training, camps, clinics, leagues, tournaments, showcases, birthday parties, and more.
The St. James is already selling complex-wide memberships with special rates for people who sign up early. Rates haven’t been announced yet. The center will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There will be parking for 900 cars.
The St. James is already selling complex-wide memberships with special rates for people who sign up early. Rates haven’t been announced yet. The center will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There will be parking for 900 cars.
Wow this is great. I hope we Mason District Residents get a discount. 🙂
Looks like every sport except tennis is included.