Kirkwood Complex Gets $10M Upgrade

BPG Sports officially renamed the Kirkwood Sports Complex as Sprinturf Performance Park on Thursday, Oct. 29, following a $10 million capital improvement project. The facility at 1220 River Road in New Castle now features five lighted synthetic turf fields and seven natural grass fields. The renovation included converting four natural grass fields to synthetic turf and installing new lighting systems. An indoor turf arena is also being renovated as part of the capital program.

The project is a joint effort between the state and private operators. Delaware’s Sports Tourism Investment Fund provided $4 million of the total investment. Governor Matt Meyer said public funding alone could not support projects of this scale. He stated that a strong private partner is necessary to develop facilities that attract regional and national tournaments.

BPG Sports, an affiliate of the Buccini/Pollin Group, manages the complex as part of a statewide network. The company’s portfolio includes Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE Turf in Frederica, WSFS Bank Sportsplex, and Sports at the Beach near Georgetown. Sprinturf became the naming rights partner for the New Castle complex and the official turf partner across the BPG Sports portfolio. Stephen Cavalier, senior vice president and general manager of BPG Sports, said the partnership helps maintain consistent standards across their facilities.

Delaware tourism officials estimate that out-of-state visitors attending sporting events generated $231.4 million in spending last year. Jessica Welch, the Delaware Tourism Director, said officials are looking to attract visitors during the off-season months. She noted that indoor facilities are the primary focus for future development to bring athletes to Delaware in January, February, and March. The goal is to turn athletic facilities into economic development engines that bring thousands of traveling athletes and families to the state.

The facility hosts more than 1.5 million visitors annually according to Sprinturf. It holds 15 large-scale tournaments each year in addition to recreational programs and school teams. Two former fields were removed to create expanded parking. BPG Sports introduced paid parking through ParkMobile for applicable events. Cavalier said the existing Kirkwood recreational soccer league will continue to play at the facility. He noted that youth sports have moved into a more competitive format, driving demand for facilities that can host multiple games regardless of weather.

The complex is 65 acres and county-owned. It opened more than three decades ago as a youth sports complex. The new name replaces the Kirkwood Sports Complex label for the site. Soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey remain the primary sports played on the grounds. The changes aim to balance the community role of the complex with the infrastructure needed for larger tournaments.