A planned multi-million-dollar facility for Norfolk’s celebrated boxing program now has a developer and is taking steps toward construction, more than two years after it moved from Harbor Park to a temporary space in Park Place.
Last week, Norfolk City Council members approved transferring the old Rosna Theatre property — the boxing program’s future home — to the city, allowing the Norfolk Economic Development Authority to sign a design/build agreement with the developer.
First announced by the city in July 2022, the redevelopment would transform the 12,500-square-foot property into a gym with two boxing rings, a bag room, a weightlifting area, spectator seating and more. Renderings show a restored Rosna Theatre marquee advertising upcoming bouts while outside TV monitors display fights happening inside.
Team Norfolk Boxing has been operating out of a temporary space in the Park Place Multi-Services Center since the program reopened in June 2022.
The program was moved from its two-ring, 13,000-square-foot home in Harbor Park because developers planned to install a temporary casino in the stadium. However, those plans fizzled out.
The boxing program was on pause for two years before that due to the pandemic.
The time between the 2022 announcement and Tuesday’s City Council vote has been filled with contract negotiations with developers and allocating the funds from the city budget, said Sean Washington, Norfolk’s economic development director.
The Economic Development Authority purchased the space for $712,500 in April 2023, and Norfolk’s 2024 budget allocated $5 million toward funding the renovations.
On a Thursday afternoon at the Park Place facility, program participants — some as young as 6 — ran laps around the building before lacing up their gear and stepping into the ring. While two fighters sparred, the thuds from another boxer’s blows hitting a punching bag rang out in the background.
Boxing program head coach Tyler Trask watched the fighters with intensity, occasionally yelling out instructions.
“Keep your hands up,” he said.
Trask, who boxed with the program when he was younger, has been head coach since 2019. He said the size of the temporary facility doesn’t compare with Harbor Park — only one ring fits into the room with just a few feet to spare on one side — but the facility still accommodates the program’s needs.
“While we’re waiting, we’ve got a great setup,” Trask said. The facility also includes a bag room and weight room, and Trask said the boxers can use the connected gym at James Monroe Elementary School part time.
Now with City Council approval, Washington said the city public works department will conduct community engagement efforts, while VIA Design Architects completes the facility design work.
Washington declined to give an exact timetable, but estimated construction was at least several months away.
“We saw this as a strategic purchase to help spark the transformation of that corridor,” Washington said about the area along 35th Street.
Finally, Washington said Coaches Sports Grill, the restaurant operating on the property, will continue to exist as part of the new facility.
Norfolk’s boxing program is recognized around the world. It has produced Olympians such as 1984 gold medalist Pernell Whitaker — who won world titles in four weight classes as a professional — and 2021 silver medalist Keyshawn Davis. Keyshawn, along with brothers Kelvin and Keon, each will fight on a card Nov. 8 at Norfolk’s Scope arena.
The Rosna Theatre was built in the 1930s with an art deco design, according to boxing center proposal document, but has sat vacant for nearly a decade.
Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com
