New sports facilities are expanding their impact through community access, youth development, inclusion and year-round recreation
Suns and Mercury plan new $60M downtown Phoenix YMCA
The Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Valley of the Sun YMCA have announced plans for a new $60 million downtown facility, replacing the historic Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA, which has closed after serving the community for decades. The three-story, 55,000-square-foot building will combine sports, education and family support services, with construction expected to begin Feb. 18, 2027, during NBA All-Star Week in Phoenix. The project is targeted for completion in 2029.
The center will feature three basketball courts, including one NBA-sized court, providing space for youth camps, clinics, tournaments and other athletic opportunities. Additional programming will include tutoring, internships, counseling, career development, nutrition classes and a full-service cafe. The partnership aims to create a resource where young people and families can access recreational, educational and personal development opportunities under one roof.
The development also includes plans by VanTrust Real Estate for approximately 60 affordable housing units in three additional stories above the YMCA. The new facility will be built on the site of the former downtown location, which first opened in 1952. Together, the sports, community services and housing components represent a significant investment in downtown Phoenix and the YMCA’s long-standing mission to support local families.
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City of Pratt, Kansas, breaks ground on $14.4M Point Pavilion sports complex
Pratt, Kansas, has broken ground on the Point Pavilion, a multimillion-dollar indoor sports and recreation complex designed to attract regional and national competitions while expanding year-round community programming. Planned for approximately 109,000 square feet, the facility carries an estimated price tag of $12.2 million to $14.4 million. Funding includes a $2.6 million state grant, $2 million in hotel guest tax revenues and private donations, with no property or sales tax revenue designated for construction.
The pavilion will feature nearly 10,000 square feet of wrestling space, six championship-quality tennis courts convertible into five basketball courts, and a 90-by-200-foot indoor turf area. Additional amenities include locker rooms, training space, outdoor pickleball courts, walking trails and gathering areas. The complex will also house Pratt Recreation offices and Visit Pratt, creating a central hub for athletic programming and visitor services.
With interest from youth basketball organizers, collegiate tennis programs and junior college athletics, Pratt expects the venue to generate a steady calendar of tournaments and competitions. Project supporters estimate a single tournament weekend could produce approximately $300,000 in local economic activity through hotel stays, dining and retail spending. The pavilion will also accommodate trade shows and community events, broadening its value to the region beyond sports.
New sports, recreation destination ‘The Bend NKY’ opens in Hebron, Kentucky
Northern Kentucky has a new destination for sports, recreation and community connection with the opening of The Bend NKY in Hebron. Inspired by a multi-use bike path running through the property, the development brings together indoor pickleball, soccer, youth athletic programming, food trucks and social gathering spaces. Its founders envisioned a place where families, athletes and neighbors could connect through active lifestyles and shared experiences.
The Bend features seven indoor pickleball courts at Hawk’s Court, complete with a bar, patio and viewing areas, along with two indoor, walled 5v5 turf soccer fields. An outdoor 9v9 field is scheduled to open later in 2026. Youth programming partner UPfield Soccer will offer introductory classes, leagues, camps and developmental training for children as young as two. The venue also accommodates birthday parties, team gatherings, corporate outings and private events.
Additional amenities will extend the destination’s appeal beyond sports. Rotating food trucks and The Nest provide dining and social opportunities, while The Backyard, a planned outdoor beer garden and gathering space, is anticipated to open in mid-2027. With more development ahead, The Bend aims to become a year-round community hub for recreation, youth development and social connection.
New soccer complex to expand sports opportunities near Steamboat Springs, Colorado
From tournament complexes to specialized venues, find facilities ready to host your event.
Cincinnati Tennis Foundation breaks ground on new facility in Ohio
The Cincinnati Tennis Foundation has broken ground on the First Serve Tennis and Education Center, a $10 million, year-round campus coming to Norwood, Ohio. Scheduled for completion in fall 2027, the facility will combine indoor tennis and pickleball courts with classrooms, a community hub, locker rooms and accessible amenities. Its mission is to expand access to sports and educational opportunities, particularly for young people and individuals with disabilities who face financial or other barriers to participation.
Once open, the center is expected to provide 800 additional after-school program hours annually and serve at least 50 youth daily with academic support, mentoring, nutrition and life-skills programming. It will also help the foundation double the number of youth and people with physical and intellectual disabilities it serves each year. In 2025, the organization reached 4,715 athletes across more than 30 community sites, including 122 wheelchair and adaptive athletes.
The project is backed by a $3.5 million commitment from First Serve Community Fund, which secured naming rights to the facility. Beyond expanding tennis infrastructure, the center represents a significant investment in youth development, adaptive sports and educational support, creating a year-round resource designed to make participation more accessible across the Cincinnati region.
Demand drives new indoor sports complex in St. Clairsville, Ohio
Sticking with Ohio, the City of St. Clairsville has broken ground on a new 20,000-square-foot indoor recreation facility designed to expand capacity for sports and community activities. Located on the city’s athletic campus, the approximately $3 million project will feature four basketball courts, four volleyball courts, eight pickleball courts and community gathering spaces.
The project has secured about 90% of its funding through private donations, grants and other support, with Unified Bank serving as the title sponsor. City leaders say the investment will help address growing demand, as existing recreation centers are already heavily used by local teams and community programs.
The facility will also include an ADA-compliant council chamber, improving accessibility for public meetings. Once complete, the addition will give St. Clairsville more flexibility to host recreational activities and serve residents of all ages.
New sports facility officially breaks ground at the University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota broke ground in October on the Gassen Family Fieldhouse, a new indoor athletics facility named in honor of USD track and field alumni Bill and Jill Gassen. The venue will seat more than 2,000 spectators and serve as the home for the university’s track and field, cross-country and triathlon programs. Completion is expected in summer 2028.
The facility will feature a 200-meter banked track, a 60-meter straightaway, long and triple jump pits, high jump areas, pole vault sections and throwing cages. Offices, lounges and hydrotherapy amenities will also support athletes and staff with training, preparation and recovery.
The fieldhouse is part of a broader university master plan to strengthen USD athletics and improve its facilities. Track and field head coach Lucky Huber called the project transformative, saying the opportunity to bring an elite facility to USD will change what the program can accomplish.
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SPG Take
The most valuable sports facilities continue to be the ones that serve their community beyond tournaments and events. Across the projects in this edition of Breaking Ground, there’s clearly growing recognition that athletic spaces play a much larger role in people’s lives, creating opportunities for better health and happiness.
This requires thinking about sports development differently. A basketball court can also become a place for tutoring and career guidance. A tennis center can open doors for young people and adaptive athletes who might otherwise lack access. An indoor complex can give a small city the capacity to serve residents while attracting visitors from across a region. Even a multi-sport gathering place can strengthen the social connections that make a community feel more connected.
Tournament potential and economic impact remain meaningful measures of success, but so is everyday use. The facilities with the greatest staying power will be those that give people more reasons to participate, return and feel invested in their communities.
— Sports Planning Guide
