Fruitland's Crown Sports Center gets big renovations, with turf, batting cages and more

Fruitland's favorite one-stop-shop to engage in sports has teamed up with a new partner to establish a beacon of support and encouragement for the surrounding community, courtesy of new renovations.

The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) has been selected as the operating partner for the privately-owned Crown Sports Center, a 125,000-square-foot sports complex located at 28410 Crown Road in Fruitland.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Crown Sports and bringing our expertise in sports facility management to the Eastern Shore,” said SFC Vice President Cole Lacy. “We look forward to creating a space that not only caters to athletes but also serves the local community and brings people together through the love of sports and recreation."

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Gillis Gilkerson is new owner of Crown Sports Center

"There's really not many facilities like this on the Delmarva Peninsula. So, opportunities like this do not come along very frequently," said Tyler Barnes, president of Gillis Gilkerson.

Gillis Gilkerson, a general contractor based in Salisbury, purchased Crown Sports Center in April 2021.

The newly renovated, temperature-controlled facility includes expanded, multi-purpose turf fields, eight pickleball courts and five batting cages, in addition to its existing indoor turf fields, four volleyball courts, two basketball courts and a family entertainment center, said SFC in a Feb. 21 news release.

The exterior of the building also received a fresh coat of paint as well as a mural done by local artist duo We Are Limitless Studios. Crown Sports Center offers an array of sports and fun activities, such as soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, pickleball, an arcade area, Clip 'N Climb and more.

Cody Revel named new Crown Sports Center general manager

"Anything you could think of, we have here," said Cody Revel, the newly appointed general manager of Crown Sports Center, in a YouTube video presented by Gillis Gilkerson on March 26.

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Revel, who was born and raised in Seaford, Delaware, and has been a Salisbury resident since 2015, is well-acquainted with the community Crown Sports Center serves, said SFC.

As a Salisbury University alumnus with a master’s degree in Sports Performance Training from Concordia University of Chicago, Cody Revel has spent nearly six years developing The Athlete Academy into a treatured institution, now with two locations in Maryland and serving over 1,000 athletes annually, the release stated.

"It's an absolute honor," Revel said of his appointment as general manager.

"My vision has always been to improve the physical and mental capabilities of athletes and to create an environment that fosters growth in all areas of their lives," he added. "Stepping into the general manager role at Crown Sports is a natural progression of that vision."

According to SFC, Revel's commitment to cultivating talent and enhancing community well-being aligns perfectly with Crown Sports Center’s mission.

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After-school programs, summer camp vital at Crown Sports Center

SFC believes that what sets Crown Sports Center apart from other sports facilities is its focus on serving the community rather than just sports tourism.

"One of our greatest revenue generators comes from our before- and after-school program and summer day camp," said Lacey. "We have around 130 kids in our before- and after-school program, and our summer camp serves about 225 kids per week. We also have a fleet of vans that pick up and drop off kids from local schools, making it convenient for working parents."

When considering the future of Crown Sports Center, SFC sees the opportunity to position the facility as the number one indoor performance and training center in the region, the release stated. The overall goal is for the sports complex to continue to thrive for generations to come.

Presently, the SF Network includes award-winning facilities in destinations such as Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri; Panama City Beach, Florida; and Sandusky, Ohio.

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Fruitland's Crown Sports Center gets big renovations, including mural