Packing Up The Home for New Digs

Here's the official scoop from the York papers about The Blast. The print edition had some additional quotes and language, but this offers the basic idea.
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CHRISTINA KAUFFMAN - The York Dispatch
Article Launched:03/28/2008 02:59:33 PM EDT

A popular indoor sports arena has partnered with an area resort to give its business more visibility. The Blast, which offers indoor and outdoor recreational and competitive leagues for adults and children, is looking to relocate to Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center. The resort is along Mount Rose Avenue and spans parts of York and Springettsbury townships.

The Blast co-owner Renny Picchini said the former location, in an industrial park at 90 Grumbacher Road in Manchester Township, closed two weeks ago. The business is moving out of the Grumbacher facility by April 1, and will be establishing temporary offices at Springwood Golf Club in York Township.

The timing of the move is ideal because a majority of the indoor business ended March 15 when a soccer league finished its season, he said. Winter is the busiest time for The Blast, which offers soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, roller hockey and basketball leagues at various skill levels, Picchini said.

The company has been planning to move out of the industrial park and into a more central location in a commercial area for about two years, Picchini said. A partnership with Heritage Hills "simply makes sense" because of its location, its high profile, and the fact that both entities are family oriented, he said. The business is still deciding whether to construct its own building at Heritage Hills or use existing space.

"Right now we're pursuing options to do both," Picchini said.

He said he "fully expects" The Blast to be open in its new location in by fall, before the next indoor season starts Nov.15.

Some female soccer players have been disappointed by the change because they wanted to use the building over the summer, he said. "I apologize to those women for a break in the action, but just give us a shot and we'll be back bigger and better than ever," he said. "This is really a positive move for York County."

Heritage Hills General Manager Matt DeRose said there may be a need for some renovations, depending on whether they decide to build or use an existing space.

As soon as that decision is made, the two will file the appropriate plans with Springettsbury Township, he said.

Indoor recreation spaces have a "very, very short construction cycle," he said. The partnership with The Blast is one of several ways Heritage Hills is evolving into a more well-rounded resort, DeRose said.

He wants the resort to serve the community as well as people who stay at the hotel, he said. Phipps Picchini LLC, the corporation that owned the Grumbacher building, sold the 3.38 acre site for $1.35 million on Aug. 31, 2007, according to records at the York County Assessment Office.

A manufacturer is moving to the site, Picchini said.

-Reach Christina Kauffman at 505-5436 or ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com.