On September 12, 2026, JLG Architects will be in Port Wentworth, Georgia, to celebrate 912 Community Day & Ribbon Cutting, the grand opening of the Ghost Pirates Ice Cove & VyStar Pavilion. The celebration, which runs 11 AM to 3 PM, is free and open to the public.
The two-facility destination, located at 18 Anchor Park Boulevard, was designed by JLG Architects to include 145,800 square feet of athletics and entertainment space alongside 150 acres of multi-sport fields.
The Ice Cove, a 90,000-square-foot facility with two NHL-sized ice sheets, is now the official practice and training facility of the Savannah Ghost Pirates, a professional minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL. The facility includes seating for 300 at each rink, meeting rooms, skate rental, a restaurant/bar, and concessions that serve both the ice arena and its outdoor sport amenities. One rink boasts Ghost Pirates branding and will serve as the professional team’s home away from home, while the other will be devoted to community skating.
The Ice Cove’s first major ice event was the Savannah Showdown Tier I youth hockey tournament, August 28–30. The Ghost Pirates’ 2026-27 regular season officially opens Friday, October 16, against the Norfolk Admirals at Enmarket Arena.
Next door, the VyStar Pavilion’s open-air amphitheater, with approximately 5,000 seats, welcomed concertgoers to the Sunset Jazz Festival on August 1, followed by its inaugural concert featuring Georgia country stars Billy Currington and Kip Moore on August 7. Here, JLG worked closely with the team to maximize space and suite configurations within the limited footprint of the covered amphitheater, inviting more fans to enjoy tailored events and VIP concert experiences.
Ghost Pirates Ice Cove
- Two NHL-regulation ice rinks
- Practice & training facility for the Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Public skating, youth hockey, college hockey & other ice sports
- Includes a restaurant/bar & pro shop
- Public programming: learn-to-skate & learn-to-play opportunities
- Skate rental & sharpening
VyStar Pavilion
- Covered, open-air amphitheater
- Suites & club seating
- Concessions
- Backstage/performer spaces
- Flexible event & concert infrastructure
Behind the Design
In Port Wentworth, considered the “Gateway to Georgia History,” Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, a private entity and owner of the Ghost Pirates, led the charge for the new practice facility and venue aimed at building regional excitement for the sport. Approximately one year into the planning process, a partnership was formed to combine two developing facilities, Zawyer’s hockey venue and the City of Port Wentworth’s new amphitheater.
JLG Architects worked with Zawyer, Oak View Group, and the City of Port Wentworth through programming and pre-design to determine the final program and concept, which included Ghost Pirate Green branding, burnished block, and horizontal shiplap siding reflecting classic nautical form and finishes.
The project team, including Meyer Najem, Thomas & Hutton, B32 Engineering Group, and Nelson-Rudie & Associates, broke ground on the athletic and entertainment complex on August 20, 2024.
The complex is located in Port Wentworth’s new Anchor Park, incorporating multi-use fields, courts, and space for pickleball, softball, baseball, and soccer.
“What made this project so compelling is the architecture’s ability to serve many different user groups simultaneously. On any given day, the Ice Cove might host a youth learn-to-skate program in the morning, a Ghost Pirates practice in the afternoon, and a community event that evening. The VyStar Pavilion operates the same way, able to easily transition from a neighborhood gathering to a sold-out concert crowd. That kind of flexibility doesn’t happen by accident. It requires every decision—from site planning to building systems and circulation—account for the full spectrum of users. We weren’t just designing a rink or a concert venue, we were setting the stage for opportunity within an entirely new vision for entertainment and athletic districts.”
— Tom Betti, Principal Sports Studio Leader, JLG Architects
