Former European midfielder Valdeci Ribeiro (Valdeci Ribeiro) owns Absolute Stone Design in Hannover. (Photo by Mike Platania)

Valdeci Ribeiro (Valdeci Ribeiro) had two professional careers in his life-playing professional football in Europe, operating a granite and marble business in the United States

Now, the two paths collide in a warehouse in Hanover.

Ribeiro is preparing to open a football stadium in a spare warehouse at 11211 Washington Highway that was formerly home to his company, Absolute Stone Design, which provides marble and granite for residential and commercial buildings.

This 12,300 square foot warehouse will house an indoor football field.

As a native Brazilian, Ribeiro left his home country at the age of 17 to go overseas for professional football.

"I played in Spain and Portugal for seven years. I did not participate in the top league, I participated in the second and third divisions," he said.

In 1994, he went to the World Cup with his brother who lived in the United States, and then came to the United States.

"He did construction here and said,'When you retired from football, why didn't you come here to work for me?' I stopped playing football in 1996 and moved to Boston," Ribeiro said.

Absolute Stone Design is located across the street from Washington Highway 11200.

In the following years, he started and sold a granite business in Boston. After moving to Richmond, he founded Absolute Stone Design and operated it for more than 20 years.

"I came to Virginia to visit a friend and said,'I'm moving here.' The weather is better, the people are more friendly, and the cost of living is lower," Ribeiro said.

About five years ago, he bought and opened a new and larger showroom for Absolute Stone Design across the street from the 11200 Washington Highway, while retaining the ownership of the old warehouse for storage. Ribeiro has now decided to turn it into what he believes will be the first indoor football stadium in Hannover.

The football field will have an indoor field slightly smaller than the full-size field, which can accommodate 7 vs. 7 matches.

"This is not a full-scale venue, but it will be 120 feet by 80 feet, and there will be walls and everything," Ribeiro said. "My employees all play football, so we will finish our work and come to play football every night."

Artificial turf has been ordered for the indoor football field.

Ribeiro said he has plans to establish a catch game and league. Futsal, a type of football played with a smaller, heavier ball, will also be played on the sports field.

The facility will also include a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu room, a small shop selling football equipment, and a bar.

"We will make Brazilian and Spanish foods, such as empanadas and tacos," said Ribeiro, who is also the co-owner of Cross Brothers' Ashland Meat Co.

Ribeiro said that he is self-financing and is estimated to cost about $500,000.

The facility is expected to open in May and is currently called Val's Sportsplex, but Ribeiro said he plans to change the name.

Mike Platania joined BizSense in December 2016. He is responsible for commercial real estate, restaurants and breweries. He graduated from Virginia Tech. Contact him at [email protected] or (804) 554-6872.

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Great story! I like that he mainly builds things for fun!

Love this story! I have been to this store a few times and love everything in it! Can't wait to see football and all the athletes will soon show up something great!

Good luck Ribeiro! I like this sentence: "I came to Virginia to visit a friend and said,'I want to move here.' The weather is better, the people are more friendly, and the cost of living is lower," Ribeiro said.

A great man is doing great things in a great town. Good luck, Val!

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