KALAMAZOO, MI – A new youth sports complex is being considered in Kalamazoo County, after a study suggested the investment could generate more than $1 billion for the local economy over 20 years.
The estimated cost of its construction is approximately $40 million. The idea is still in its early stage, and basic details have not yet been settled, such as the location of the facility and who will pay for the project.
Despite those big items on the to-do list, there is interest in moving the project forward, said Brian Persky of Discover Kalamazoo.
“Youth participation in sports is increasing dramatically,” Persky said. “It’s like the country hasn’t kept up with the demand. That’s why you see amenities popping up everywhere, because destinations realize there’s a return on that, and they bring hundreds of thousands of people into your community.”
Persky said the study shows the biggest opportunity lies in basketball and volleyball courts, due in part to current demand and offerings in the area.
An indoor artificial turf area will also likely be included in the facility, which is estimated at 100,000 square feet to 140,000 square feet, he said.
An ideal facility would have eight to 12 basketball courts, which could be configured as 16 to 24 volleyball courts, Persky said. Construction will take about 12 acres, he said.
Persky said a hypothetical draft of plans shows eight basketball courts (or 16 volleyball courts in their place), although those plans could change depending on partnerships that develop and other factors. He added that it could also be adapted for other sports, and organizers envision using it seven days a week.
The feasibility study includes an analysis of local and regional needs for youth sports facilities. It also looks at the population within a three-hour drive of Kalamazoo, which includes cities like Detroit and Chicago.
Nearly 20 million people live within a three-hour drive of Kalamazoo, a positive factor in the study, he said.
“We want something that will drive sports tourism on the weekends, but also cater to our local community as well,” Persky said.
During the study process from October 2022 to April 2023, organizers heard from the basketball and volleyball communities that there was a lack of large space for tournaments.
Persky offered an overview of the 120-page study to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette, although it is not currently available to the public.
The company that conducted the study doesn’t always find projects feasible, but that wasn’t the case for the youth sports complex in Kalamazoo County, Persky said. The study says investment in building and operating the facility could generate more than $1 billion locally over the next two decades.
“We know there’s a market for it,” Persky said.
Details about the estimated economic benefits are provided in the study.
The study says the facility will bring guests to hotels and pump money into the local economy from visitors.
Operationally, the facility will at least break even in terms of revenue, Persky said.
Location, location, location
A location for the proposed facility is still being determined, although organizers have some items on their wish list, Persky said.
Discover Kalamazoo sent out a request for proposals in November to hire a company to study site selection, and is now reviewing those proposals.
“We have about seven or eight sites that we feel are potentially realistic options,” Persky said.
Downtown Kalamazoo is not a likely landing spot, partly because of the amount of land available, he said.
Some factors being discussed are accessibility to hotels, highways and other amenities, Persky said. The project could spur more development nearby as well, he said.
The design and details of the facility could change, depending on which groups play a role in the operation, he said. He said it could include aspects of other sports, although the study focused on positive numbers for basketball and volleyball, and also acknowledged some demand for an indoor turf court.
Whatever design is chosen, it could be designed to accommodate other sports such as pickleball or martial arts, or even non-athletic activities such as consumer shows, he said.
He found Kalamazoo officials talking with groups, including public and private entities, about the idea.
He added: “By June or July, we should have a good idea of what it will be, where it could go, and who is seriously interested in it.”
A second sports facility?
The project is separate from the $300 million arena project coming to downtown Kalamazoo.
However, the two sports facilities are connected in a different way. The idea for the youth facility came from reference to the $300 million Compact Sports and Leisure International (CSL) feasibility study for the $300 million arena, which briefly suggested that both facilities might be needed.
After Discover Kalamazoo requested proposals for a feasibility study on a youth sports complex, the group hired CSL to conduct the study. The CSL considered the feasibility of creating a youth facility for use by local residents as well as people traveling for tournaments.
The two facilities could be used in a way that complements each other, such as hosting a weekend tournament at the youth facility and then holding a championship game in the downtown arena, Persky said.
Officials from Southwest Michigan First, leaders involved in youth sports and leaders from several other organizations have been part of the conversations so far.
Discover Kalamazoo is a destination marketing organization that works to increase visitor spending to Kalamazoo County.
Persky said the youth sports facility could more than double the amount of sports tourism in the area and would make a “huge difference.”
After meetings with stakeholders, Discover Kalamazoo is ready to unveil its plans to the community, he said. The draft floor plan shared with MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette has not yet been finalized and the proposed details may change.
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Kalamazoo County is set to welcome a new $40 million youth sports complex, providing a state-of-the-art facility for young athletes to train and compete. With a focus on promoting physical activity and healthy competition, this complex aims to be a hub for sports development in the community. The investment in such a facility demonstrates the commitment to supporting youth athletics and creating opportunities for young people to excel in their chosen sports. The complex is expected to not only benefit local athletes, but also attract tournaments and events, bringing economic and social benefits to the area. This new development is an exciting addition to the county and will undoubtedly make a positive impact on the local sporting community.