Boo Williams Sportsplex – Overview

Hampton native Marcellus Spencer Williams Jr., also known as Boo Williams, dreamed of opening a sports complex for over a decade. All of his life he was an athlete, coach, and sports advocate, so he wanted to be able to help others follow their passion for athletics. Eventually, in 2008, the Boo Williams Sportsplex opened its doors to the public. From Washington, D.C., to North Carolina, it is the largest sports complex of its kind.

This youth facility hosts various types of sports all under one roof. It can be used for tournaments or for training. Whether you’re headed to the Boo Williams Sportsplex for a game or just to exercise, knowing the facility before you get there will help you feel more confident as you navigate the space.

 

Overview

  • 135,000 square feet of space: Overall, the Boo Williams Sportsplex has 135,000 square feet of space. It can be used for tournaments, competitions, or training. This includes the multiple courts, track, banquet room, meeting room, concessions, bathrooms, and locker rooms.
  • 64,000-square-foot pavilion: The multi-purpose courts and track are split into two pavilions, and one of these pavilions has 64,000 square feet of space. The track is covered with International Association of Athletics Federations-certified synthetic surface. It is a 200-meter, six-lane indoor track. On two sides of the track, there are areas for long jump, pole vault, triple jump, and shot put. Inside the track, there are four multi-function courts. This area can be set up as four basketball courts or used for field hockey, volleyball, or lacrosse games.
  • 31,000-square-foot pavilion: The second pavilion is smaller, totaling in at 31,000 square feet of space. In this area, there are eight volleyball courts and four basketball courts. There are electronic scoreboards in both pavilions. However, dividers are only available in this smaller pavilion.
  • 4,238-square-foot dining area: In between the two pavilions is a concession area. There is a kitchen and seating area for guests.
  • 12 volleyball courts: Eight of the complex’s volleyball courts are in the smaller pavilion. The other four are in the larger pavilion.
  • Eight basketball courts: Each pavilion has four basketball courts. Multiple games can take place at one time.
  • Two training rooms: There are two training areas in the Boo Williams Sportsplex. There is a small training room next to the 64,000-square-foot pavilion. The larger training area is for speed and conditioning. It is located near the smaller pavilion.
  • Retractable bleacher seating: Both pavilions feature retractable bleacher seating. There is enough seating to hold 4,000 audience members.
  • Registration room: If you have a competition at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, you’ll be stopping in the registration room. Teams will be able to check in with ease in this large room, measuring in at 52 by 59 feet.
  • Meeting room: Next to the offices and the smaller training room is the meeting room. This room is 24 by 28 feet and is useful for event operator meetings to ensure tournaments and other events run smoothly.
  • Operation center: If you are a coach or sports coordinator coming to the Boo Williams Sportsplex, the operation center is where you can go to send e-mails and plan events.
  • Multi-purpose room: The multi-purpose room can be used as a banquet room or a space for conferences. This room also has an overhead projector.

 

Tips

  • The Boo Williams Sportsplex is only closed two days a year. Christmas and New Year’s Day are the two days that the Sportsplex is not open. Every other day of the year the facility is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. This gives visitors plenty of time to train, practice, and play.
  • Food is available inside the facility. Bring money for the concession area because no outside food or beverages are allowed inside the Boo Williams Sportsplex.
  • There are locker rooms on site. You don’t have to show up in your workout clothing or team uniform. Guests can change at the facility in the locker room.
  • There is a merchandise store in the Boo Williams Sportsplex. If you forgot any workout gear, you can buy items at the merchandise store inside the venue. It is located near the entrance and concession area.
  • You can rent one, some, or all of the basketball court areas. If you are a coach or coordinator planning an event, you can choose a specific number of courts you want to book. Multiple courts can be used at one time and dividers can be set up in the 31,000-square-foot pavilion.
  • Wi-Fi is available throughout the Boo Williams Sportsplex. You’ll always be connected when you visit this venue because high-speed internet is available to all guests for free.
  • All bags are subject to search when brought into the venue. As a safety precaution, all bags and persons may be searched prior to entering the facility. Make sure you don’t have any prohibited items, such as outside food, laser pointers, or concealed firearms.
  • Don’t plan on bringing cigarettes or e-cigarettes. The Boo Williams Sportsplex is a smoke-free facility.
  • There is no lost and found at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. However, you can call them to see if anyone turned in your lost item.
  • The Boo Williams Sportsplex website will only have the schedule for upcoming games, not specific information about the event. This means you need to check the event’s website or speak with event staff directly for detailed information about the game or training. Entrance fees vary based on the specific event.

 

Trivia

  • The Boo Williams Sportsplex is versatile enough to host over 16 types of indoor sports. These sports include basketball, volleyball, field hockey, track and field, wrestling, cheerleading, gymnastics, soccer, and lacrosse. There are also sports played here that you may not have expected, such as boxing, karate, archery, and even paintball.
  • Boo Williams played basketball for St. Joseph’s University. He was even inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. Later, Williams went on to play basketball professionally in Europe for a time.
  • In 1982, Boo Williams founded a high school Amateur Athletic Union basketball program called the Boo Williams Summer League. Today this network consists of 165 teams. There are both girls and boys teams, and many of those that take place in the program go on to attain basketball scholarships for college. Some have even become college basketball stars or professionals.