Salem’s award-winning Moyer Sports Complex is officially back in business. After a 22-month renovation process, civic leaders and many others who were instrumental in the facility’s major facelift gathered outside the main gate to cut the ribbon and reopen the facility.

“By renovating, the Moyer will continue to shine as it serves everyone in this part of the country for years to come,” said Salem Mayor Renee Turk. “Visitors, coaches, and athletes have filled our hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations since 1992, and we cannot wait to have them back.”

The complex features 4 updated diamonds, 13 pickleball courts, and a new community playground with special needs accessibility. There is also lots of additional parking, and plenty of enhancements on the playing surfaces for players and fans alike, including covered bleachers and restrooms in every dugout.

“We had very little shade in the original complex, so adding shade structures and additional parking were priorities,” John Shaner, Salem Parks and Recreation Director said. “This includes a new lot on Colorado Street that will help with overflow event parking and allow for easy access to our greenway and the Roanoke River.”

The facility’s upgrades were budgeted at $27.9 million, and the project has remained under budget throughout the often-arduous construction phases. A great deal of the credit for that success goes to Salem’s own G&H Contracting.

“They are the heart and soul of this project,” said Shaner. “There were so many moving parts with the construction of this facility, and G&H really knocked it out of the park.”

The 22-acre complex originally opened in April of 1992, and it annually hosts a variety of events ranging from youth softball and baseball tournaments to NCAA women’s national softball championships. The Moyer is typically in use an average of 230 days a year with a yearly attendance of approximately 250,000 guests. 

“The Moyer has been a huge asset to our valley for over 30 years and all of these renovations and updates will ensure that the facility remains a strong economic driver for the region and one of the top sports complexes on the east coast,” said Shaner.

In 2004, the venue hosted Jennie Finch and the United States Olympic Softball team for a sold-out exhibition game and in 2011 the facility was named the complex of the year in the United States by USA Softball. Year after year a variety of college conferences and the Virginia High School League crown champions at home plate. 

“When we look at the Moyer, we see an opportunity for the future,” said Jon Oney of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. “Sports tourism is a $52 billion dollar industry and $2.7 billion was generated in the Commonwealth alone in 2022, which puts us in the top 10 in states across the country.

Virginia Senator David Suetterlein, House of Delegates member Joe McNamara, Salem City Council members, Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea and Roanoke County Supervisors Vice-Chair, Martha Hooker, were among those in attendance for the reopening ceremony.

“It is a collective voice to attract and recruit events to this region,” said Oney. “Having a state-of-the-art facility like the Moyer Sports Complex gives Virginia’s Blue Ridge a leg up in retaining current business and recruiting new business. For that, we are eternally thankful.”

Ground was broken on the Moyer project on September 28, 2022, and the renovations were funded by a combination of Salem funds and a $15 million bond. 

“The complex has served so many of our citizens since it opened in 1992,” Turk said. “It has been a critical facet of the economic growth that has occurred in Salem and the surrounding communities in the past 32 years and we are confident it will continue to thrive.”

The venue will see its first post-renovation action in just a few days. The USA Girls 14-and-under and 18-and-under Class A national championships will take place at the Moyer and the Botetourt Sports Complex in Daleville July 17-21.

• THE FIELDS OF DREAMS

1. Covered seating for 500-plus fans at each field
2. Bermuda Turf playing fields
3. State of the art Musco Lighting on all fields
4. Musco Vision camera system for live streaming of games 
5. 8 dugouts with their own restrooms
6. Scoreboards and public address system for all fields. 
7. 8 bullpens with artificial turf & pitching mound surface
8. 4 batting cages 
9. Paved parking for up to 400 vehicles including dedicated space for large buses. 
10. High speed internet throughout the complex. 
11. Portable and adjustable fencing for levels of competition 
12. Irrigation for playing fields and ornamental areas. 
13. Tabletop seating areas for concessions. 
14. Championship field has seat backs, inning by inning scoreboard, artificial turf in foul territory of infield, field tarp, and semi-permanent chain link fencing system for NCAA events. 
15. Central tower for scorekeeping, tournament operations, concessions, and public restrooms.
16. The Tower has an elevator, kitchenette, and manager’s office. 
17. Entrance building for ticket office, flex space, and umpire suite that includes shower, two restrooms, and kitchenette. 
18. Entrance plaza includes granite floating ball water feature. 

• THE COMMUNITY AMENITIES
  1. 13 New Pickleball Courts
  2. New ADA compliant Playground
  3. New Parking Lot accessible from Colorado Street with access to Greenway