Saint James founder credits Fairfax County for drawing national sports complex to the DMV

Kendrick Ashton, cofounder and co-CEO of The Saint James, said on the Connect with County Leaders podcast that Fairfax County’s demographics and long-term planning drew his team to locate the multi-sport complex there and that the facility now hosts large events and youth programs that benefit the region.

Ashton described The Saint James as an "integrated premium, comprehensive sports, wellness and active entertainment platform," created to fill what he called a gap between public offerings and family demand. He said the complex hosts roughly 125 "tent-pole" events a year—events he defined as drawing more than 1,000 athletes—and attracts regional and national visitors, supporting sports tourism and local hospitality providers.

Why it matters: Ashton framed The Saint James as both a community resource for all ages and a regional economic draw. He told host Brian Hill that sponsorship dollars from Fairfax County and coordinated access to county-controlled fields and courts would be "enormously useful" to secure and stage bigger events, and said Visit Fairfax and hotel capacity are part of the event-planning equation.

Ashton also outlined the facility’s education and athlete-development work. "We have an academy experience," he said, noting the program currently offers 10 sports with plans to expand toward 20 and highlighting national-level programs in wrestling, track and field and other sports. He said the complex hosts HBCU college fairs, concerts and professional events such as the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), and that these offerings support both local participation and sports tourism.

Opening timeline and pandemic impact: Ashton said The Saint James opened about a year before the COVID-19 pandemic and only recovered to fuller operations around 2022; he described the organization as in its early growth phase in the DMV despite having several years of activity and event hosting behind it.

On community and education, Ashton said he sees supporting schools and leadership development as central to the facility’s mission, and cited his board role at William and Mary as part of that commitment. In a Black History Month reflection, he recalled growing up in Washington, D.C., and looking up to figures including Thurgood Marshall and Marion Barry as formative examples.

What’s next: Ashton said The Saint James plans to expand programming and seek deeper coordination with Fairfax County and Visit Fairfax to attract larger events. He said county sponsorships and strategic field-use arrangements would help the facility host more major tournaments and broaden its community offerings.

Quote attribution: All quotes are from Kendrick Ashton during the recorded interview; Brian Hill served as the host and questioner.