From a $3 billion MLB ballpark proposal to training facilities and community sports complexes, new projects are reshaping the future of sports and recreation
Follow the latest sports facility developments with Breaking Ground.
KC Royals $3 billion ballpark development receives key approval
The MLB’s Kansas City Royals are moving forward with plans for a new downtown ballpark after city officials approved key financing and zoning measures for a $3 billion stadium and mixed-use development. The City Council authorized $537 million in public bonds, established a tax-increment financing district and approved rezoning for the Crown Center site near Union Station. The project, developed in partnership with Hallmark Cards, is expected to open in 2030, with groundbreaking planned for next spring.
The development will feature a roughly 34,000-seat ballpark within an 85-acre district that includes Hallmark’s new headquarters, a park-like central square, fountains and additional mixed-use amenities. Under the agreement, the Royals will sign a 30-year lease, cover stadium operating and maintenance costs, and provide the city with 5% of net profits from non-baseball events held at the venue.
The move will reshape Kansas City’s sports and entertainment landscape as both the Royals and Chiefs prepare to leave the Truman Sports Complex area for new stadiums. Plans for the existing sites include retaining Arrowhead Stadium for major events and redeveloping Kauffman Stadium’s location with a hotel, convention center, dining, shopping and live entertainment.
UAPB breaks ground on track & field and soccer complex
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) ceremonially broke ground recently on a long-awaited track & field and soccer complex, marking a significant investment in Golden Lions athletics. The project, in development since 2020, will give UAPB its first on-campus track facility. Construction by Tarkett Sports Construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months, supported by donations from businesses and individuals and federal Title III funding.
The new complex will allow UAPB to host track and field meets for the first time, ending years of reliance on Pine Bluff High School for practices and other universities for competitions. Despite those limitations, Golden Lions athletes have achieved national success, including All-American performances in track and field. The facility is also expected to strengthen recruitment by giving prospective student-athletes access to dedicated training and competition venues.
The project will also provide an upgraded home for the Lady Lions soccer program, which plans to move from the Pumphrey Soccer Complex once construction is complete. University leaders say the development reflects a broader commitment to improving student-athlete experiences and campus facilities, while positioning UAPB to attract talent and host more sporting events in the future.
Clearwater Sports Campus plans $300 million expansion
The proposed Sports and Recreation Campus in Clearwater, Florida is expanding into an approximately $300 million development, with a new 220,000-square-foot indoor fieldhouse adding capacity for multiple sports. Developed by Clearwater-based Porter Development, the project responds to residents’ requests for more indoor recreation and aims to create a destination combining sports, fitness, entertainment and dining. Construction and opening timelines have not yet been announced.
The fieldhouse would feature eight full-size basketball courts convertible into 16 volleyball courts, along with space for soccer, flag football, cheerleading and gymnastics. The Clearwater Racquet Club would also move all 24 planned pickleball courts indoors and include four padel courts. Beyond athletics, the campus would incorporate outdoor sports, wellness amenities and a major water attraction, broadening its appeal to residents, visiting teams and families.
The redevelopment would replace an existing golf course, with the developer anticipating new tax revenue and visitor spending, though financial projections have not been released. The fieldhouse could also serve as an emergency operations center, supporting staging and logistics before and after major storms. Environmental remediation and stormwater infrastructure improvements are also planned as part of the site’s transformation.
First look inside new aquatics center in Manatee County, Florida
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Dallas Wings to build new $80 million practice facility
The Dallas Wings have broken ground on a new practice facility in the Far West Oak Cliff neighborhood, marking a significant investment in the franchise’s future. The Joey Georgusis Park Auxiliary Building is expected to cost more than $80 million, including an estimated $52 million in city funding. The team aims to complete construction by the end of April 2027, ahead of the 2027 WNBA season.
The facility is part of a broader transformation for the Wings, who are building around recent No. 1 overall draft picks Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. The franchise currently practices and plays at the University of Texas at Arlington’s College Park Center but expects 2027 to be its final season in Arlington. Plans call for the team to play at the American Airlines Center in 2027, although an agreement has not been finalized.
By 2028, the Wings expect to move into the renovated Dallas Memorial Auditorium. Together, the new practice facility and planned arena could strengthen the franchise’s profile, attract more fans and help position Dallas as a leading destination for women’s basketball.
UT San Antonio opens 53,000-square-foot facility for multiple programs
The University of Texas at San Antonio has opened its new Basketball & Volleyball Training Center, a more than $35 million facility designed to strengthen the university’s basketball and volleyball programs. Located beside the Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence on the northwest-side campus, the building expands UTSA’s dedicated athletics infrastructure and provides specialized training space for its men’s and women’s teams.
The center features two full-sized NCAA practice courts, program-specific locker rooms and team lounges, along with a weight room, athletic training and recovery spaces, meeting rooms and coaches’ offices. Its training facilities will be available to nearly 400 student athletes, while round-the-clock court access gives basketball and volleyball players greater flexibility for practice and preparation. University leaders say investment is essential to the continued development of all four programs.
Construction began in April 2025, with the project supported by a funding partnership that included $5 million each from Bexar County and the City of San Antonio. Populous served as lead architect, with Skanska USA Inc. handling construction. The center adds to San Antonio’s broader sports infrastructure, complementing other athletic and entertainment development projects across the city.
New $10 million sports venue set to open in Gluckstadt, Mississippi
Gluckstadt, Mississippi, is preparing to open TD Select Baseball, a $10 million, 40-acre sports complex expected to be completed by late November. Designed to strengthen youth sports development, the facility will combine baseball training and competition with soccer fields, creating new opportunities for local athletes and traveling teams. Developers say the project will help address demand for practice space and playing fields across the region.
The complex will feature a 10,000-square-foot indoor training facility with 10 batting cages, four outdoor baseball fields and two soccer pitches. TD Select Baseball already serves 13 youth teams, ranging from ages 7 and under to 14 and under, with plans to eventually accommodate older baseball players and softball programs. Additional development could bring another open-air training facility and four to six multipurpose fields for soccer and football.
The project reflects a broader effort to expand sports infrastructure in the growing Gluckstadt area, where families have often traveled to neighboring communities to find fields and training space. By supporting player development and hosting youth games and travel tournaments, TD Select Baseball could strengthen the local sports ecosystem while creating a foundation for future expansion.
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SPG Take
The developments in this edition of BG demonstrate how sports facilities can shape a community’s future, whether the goal is to attract major league fans, develop young athletes or bring more tournaments to a region. Kansas City’s proposed $3 billion Royals development could reshape downtown and redefine the city’s sports and entertainment landscape, while Clearwater’s ambitious campus aims to combine athletics, recreation and tourism in one destination.
Other projects are tackling a more basic challenge: access. UAPB will finally have an on-campus track facility, Gluckstadt is adding much-needed fields and training space for youth sports, and UT San Antonio is giving its basketball and volleyball programs dedicated resources to compete and grow. The Dallas Wings’ new practice facility also underscores the increasing investment in women’s professional sports.
The strongest projects will be those that translate new facilities into lasting benefits, from athlete development and event hosting to visitor spending and community access.
— Sports Planning Guide
