Plans approved to retrofit Best Buy for volleyball

There is a growing regional organization responsible for bringing millions of dollars annually into the Fort Smith area and it’s not the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau — although the bureau manages well its efforts.

Officials with the Fort Smith Juniors got the green light Tuesday night (Feb. 2) from the Fort Smith Board of Directors — the board approved a minor zoning variance — to proceed with plans to convert the former Best Buy store near the Hampton Inn into a “multi use, quasi indoor sports facility.”

The facility, according to Travis Stephens, will be retrofitted to support the expansion of the Fort Smith Juniors (FSJ) — the growing regional organization that has proven its ability to bring thousands of volleyball player, parents and fans to Fort Smith from seven states.

ECONOMIC, REGIONAL IMPACT
In 2009, more than 170 teams participated in the Battle at the Fort, producing an estimated economic impact of $2.49 million. Just this past weekend, 37 teams were in Fort Smith, although 84 were registered to attend. Snow and icy weather prevented the other registered teams from attending. This upcoming weekend (Feb. 6-7), Battle at the Fort will host 76 teams in the 10-14 age range.

FSJ is a regional organization. The club has 15 teams, with approximately 140 girls that drive from Alma, Charleston, Fort Smith, Greenwood, Lavaca, Mansfield, Paris and Van Buren. The club also has a player from McAlester, Okla.

Speaking before the city board, Greg Hale said the 15-year old organization is not solely interested in supporting tourism development. He said nine girls who were FSJ members recently received college scholarships to play volleyball. Also, all the members of the Southside High School volleyball team that won the 2009 state championship were FSJ members.

“We feel like we were a part of this,” said Hale, who serves as the vice president of club development for FSJ.

BEST BUY RETROFIT
The about 36,000-square-foot Best Buy building, which was vacated in November 2008 when the company moved its operation to the Fort Smith Pavilion mall off Phoenix Avenue, is an ideal spot to add volleyball courts, Stephens noted in an e-mail interview with The City Wire.

“Currently, FSJ uses the public schools’ gyms for practices. However, they are only available after the school’s sports teams and various school functions aren’t occupying them. Because of the growth in popularity of volleyball in this area we are maxed out on practice times and team capacity,” Stephens explained.

Property owner Bennie Westphal has agreed to let the FSJ use facility rent free, but FSJ is responsible for internal improvements and to pay utilities. Also, if a national tenant wants to move in, FSJ as to vacate the building.

“Given the economy and the space available (in Fort Smith), FSJ volleyball is hoping it will be a while before another national tenant comes calling,” Stephens said. “If it weren’t for Bennie Westphal’s desire to see amazing things take place for the youth of this community none of this would be possible.”

TOURNAMENT EXPANSION
Stephens said the FSJ will “spend a significant amount of money” to install four volleyball courts that can be used for practice and to expand the annual Battle of the Fort tournament. Also, Jessica Patterson of Extreme Athletes will use some of the space to offer speed and agility training for people of all ages.

“The building solves two major challenges for the volleyball club (by) creating more practice venues so our teams can practice longer ... and to help with our annual tournament. Currently, we use the Fort Smith Convention Center and a few of the public school gyms and we are still sending teams to Van Buren because we just don’t have enough courts in Fort Smith,” Stephens said in his note.

Stephens said the Best Buy building could add up to 32 teams to the annual Battle at the Fort.

TOURISM SUPPORT
Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the FSJ effort is “a perfect example” of how a few business leaders and “some volunteer parents” can improve tourism in the region.

“I applaud the volleyball people for their creativity in using venues that we have available to us, and I applaud Bennie for making this kind of thing possible,” Legris said.

Legris added to Hale’s note to the city board about this being more than just a tourism project.

“What we all have to keep in mind with this is that it’s not just to entertain the children. We often hear that we’re doing something for the children. Well, the Fort Smith Juniors really are. ... These girls are competing for and winning major scholarship money,” Legris said.