NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Northeast Volleyball Club (NEVBC) is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the 54,000 square foot SONO Field House, an iconic Fairfield County sports landmark located at 365 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Northeast Volleyball Club, currently housed in Wilton, is the premier volleyball club and training facility in Fairfield County. The acquisition will double NEVBC’s current capacity and enable more young athletes to participate in the club’s programs year-round.
The grand opening for the new Northeast Athletic Center (N.A.C.) and volleyball use is set for June 2022. The elite volleyball training center will include:
- Six volleyball courts with Taraflex flooring
- 12,000 square foot indoor turf field
- Collegiate-level weight room
- Café area, meeting spaces, and offices
NEVBC owners, husband and wife duo Cat Dailey Minyard and Garrett Minyard, have made it their mission to elevate the level of volleyball in the area. Cat, a former pro volleyball player and Ivy League standout at Yale, commented “It has always been our dream to have our own volleyball facility for our athletes to call home. We are so grateful for the mazing families in our volleyball community that allowed us to make this vision a reality. We are especially thankful for Richard Casner, a commercial real estate professional and volleyball parent, who guided us every step of the way.”
With record high numbers of athletes at NEVBC each season, there was clearly a need to expand. According to NEVBC co-owner Garrett Minyard, “Volleyball is exploding in popularity across the country right now, and yet, Connecticut has historically been behind in developing top volleyball athletes. The new Northeast Athletic Center will tremendously accelerate the growth of the game in Connecticut and our region. We’ll be able to serve our expanding community and provide more young athletes with the highest quality volleyball experience - and nothing makes us happier.”
The facility will also offer 12,000 square feet of turf area. The owners noted “Field rentals and lacrosse clinics will carry on in Spring 2022 during the installation of N.A.C.’s 6 new volleyball courts. We look forward to serving the existing SONO Field House community.”
The acquisition was financed by Webster Bank, as well as New England Certified Development Corporation via a U.S. SBA-backed loan.
