With Chelsea Piers Connecticut signing on to bring a new sporting complex to Stamford, area companies can look forward to a new neighbor in corporate team building.
Erica Schietinger, vice president of corporate communications for Chelsea Piers, said though the Stamford location is in a very preliminary stage, the city offered a backdrop in which an investment was suitable.
“We have a very robust great team-building program down in Manhattan,” said Schietinger. “There”™s a lot of excitement and we look forward to working in Stamford.”
Chelsea Piers signed a lease agreement under Chelsea Piers Connecticut LLC last month to develop a sports complex at the former Clairol site on Blachley Road in Stamford.
The facility was purchased in March by a partnership between Steven LLC, Norwalk-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners and the Connecticut Film Center, called Stamford Exit 9 LLC. The collective paid about $16.75 million and plan to establish a film, television and video production center at the sprawling 770,000-square-foot facility.
Jack Condlin, president of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, said bringing the corporate team building to the largest business core in the county is a strong and justifiable move.
“Corporate team building is a very important part of corporations; it”™s a strong part of corporate culture,” said Condlin. “This provides another venue to keep it local.
Condlin said because Chelsea Piers has a highly evolved model, it will be able to step into the fast paced growing corporate structure of Stamford.
Given its demographics, Fairfield County is an ideal location for the first expansion of Chelsea Piers, said David Tewksbury, co-founder of Chelsea Piers New York and president of Chelsea Piers Connecticut.
“We are looking forward to working with the City of Stamford to create a vibrant sports and recreation center that serves people from all walks of life,” he said in prepared comments. “Fairfield County has one of the most active and vibrant youth and adult sports communities in the country.”
Condlin said Stamford demands independent corporate amenities and larger range possibilities than what are currently present.
“Chelsea Piers is the best; they have been able to hone their talents in the biggest market in the world,” he said. “It”™s very exciting, they”™re already meeting with our developing committee but they”™ve got a lot of zoning work to do.”
Chelsea Piers is slated to open in fall 2012.
“A project like this really identifies Stamford as the region”™s draw,” said Condlin. “It solidifies Stamford as the place people want to go, they were fortunate this site was available.”
