SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The local city council has approved an amended plan for the proposed 95-acre Scheels Sports Complex at Legacy Pointe in Springfield, Ill.
As reported by sj-r.com, the planned complex will include indoor and outdoor sports facilities, which will be able to accommodate tournaments of 60 to 100 teams as well as local middle and high school teams.
According to the article, the venues will all be constructed at the same time, as opposed to an earlier plan which called for a “phased approach.” It is expected the complex could be ready for use by the end of 2025, with an estimated price tag of $67 million.
The article states that local tourism officials believe the facility could draw in 250,000 new visitors annually, along with $30 million in the economic spinoff.
The complex would be privately owned by developers Steve Luker and Dirk McCormick, who now have around 90 days to finalize the financing.
Luker told sj-r.com that while there are people who are skeptical regarding the project, he doesn’t know “anyone who doesn’t want to see this.”
Misty Buscher, mayor-elect for the city who will take office on May 5, says the new sports complex could attract more business from conventions and trade shows.
According to the article, the city’s assistance cap for the project will be $45 million. It will be funded by local taxes, including a two percent portion of the city’s overall eight percent hotel-motel tax.
