From college athletics and professional soccer to multi-sport domes, communities across North America are investing in new sports facilities
Follow the latest sports facility developments with Breaking Ground.
Blinn College plans for $43M sports complex in Brenham, Texas
Blinn College is moving forward with plans for a $43 million Sports Complex on its Brenham campus, adding a major new athletics investment to a program that has won more than 50 national championships since 1986. Construction is scheduled to begin in November, with completion targeted for summer 2028. The project includes a 28,555-square-foot fieldhouse with offices, locker rooms, training facilities and storage, along with about 250 parking spaces.
The complex will provide new facilities for several Blinn programs, including a synthetic turf football practice field, competitive soccer and softball fields, an intramural and supplemental practice field and an eight-lane track. The development will consolidate training and competition opportunities for teams that currently use separate or aging facilities, supporting athlete development while strengthening recruitment and retention.
Blinn’s investment also builds on a legacy of developing athletes who have advanced to major college programs and professional sports. Alumni include NFL star Cam Newton, World Series champion Don Baylor, NBA champion Chris “Birdman” Anderson and Olympic silver medalist James Beckford. The new complex could further enhance Blinn’s reputation as a destination for high-level junior college athletics.
Boca Raton soon to get Florida’s largest indoor pickleball and padel club
Boca Raton is preparing to open Boca Paddle by CityPickle, a $20 million, 100,000-square-foot racquet sports complex expected to become Florida’s largest indoor pickleball and padel facility. Opening Nov. 18, the club will feature 25 courts, including 16 climate-controlled indoor courts and a 1,000-seat stadium court. The project aims to build on Boca Raton’s growing reputation as a pickleball hub while providing year-round opportunities for competition, recreation and community gatherings.
The facility will include 19 pickleball courts and six padel courts, with programming ranging from clinics and lessons to leagues and tournaments. Cameras and large monitors on every court will allow players to track scores, review points and share matches. Boca Paddle will also become home to the Palm Beach Royals Major League Pickleball team and offer more than 200 hours of daily court time.
Beyond the courts, the complex is designed as a broader sports and lifestyle destination, with physical therapy, recovery amenities, coworking spaces and event areas. A full-service restaurant operated by Farmer’s Table owner Mitchell Robbins will be open to the public, reinforcing the project’s goal of combining racquet sports, dining and social experiences under one roof.
Clarington opens Bowmanville Community Complex dome for turf sports
Clarington, Ontario, Canada, opened the doors to its new Bowmanville Community Complex dome on Oct. 3, marking a major milestone less than 18 months after construction began in May 2025. About 1,700 residents attended the open house to experience the 100,000-square-foot, FIFA-sized multi-sport dome, which is roughly four times larger than the former Bowmanville Indoor Soccer Centre. The facility provides year-round space for soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, baseball, softball, cricket and other sports, along with a 370-metre indoor walking track.
The new dome also expands Clarington’s ability to host tournaments while giving local athletes more opportunities for training and development. Its premium indoor turf eliminates traditional rubber crumb infill and is designed for traction, durability and safety. Programming begins Oct. 13, with offerings shaped by feedback from more than 1,400 residents.
The dome is the first major component of a larger recreation destination that will eventually span more than 172,000 square feet. Future amenities include FIBA-sized courts, an aquatics center, fitness and dance studios, an outdoor skating trail, playground and splash pad, positioning the complex as a year-round hub for sports, wellness and community events.
University of South Dakota breaks ground on new fieldhouse
From tournament complexes to specialized venues, find facilities ready to host your event.
Denver Summit FC breaks ground on new Santa Fe Yards stadium project
Denver Summit FC broke ground recently on its long-awaited permanent stadium at Santa Fe Yards, marking a major milestone for the National Women’s Soccer League franchise. Construction is expected to begin this fall on the 14-acre redevelopment, designed by Populous, with completion targeted for the end of 2028. The stadium will feature 12,500 fixed seats and standing-room areas that expand capacity to 13,000, with flexible seating and social spaces designed to create an intimate matchday experience.
The Santa Fe Yards project is envisioned as more than a stadium, with Summit FC aiming to establish a recreational district centered on professional women’s soccer while encouraging transit-oriented development and new investment in the surrounding neighborhood. The venue is also being designed to prioritize accessibility and affordability, while creating a dedicated home where athletes and fans can build a lasting connection to the club.
Summit FC will continue playing at its temporary Centennial Stadium throughout the 2027 season and expects to host most of its 2028 home matches there before moving to Santa Fe Yards. The project builds on the club’s growing infrastructure, including its 20,000-square-foot CommonSpirit Performance Center, and could strengthen Denver’s position as a destination for women’s professional sports.
TXST launches $16.5M baseball and softball facility transformation
While one Texas university has plans for a big new complex, Texas State broke ground Saturday on a $16.5 million, two-phase project designed to elevate its baseball and softball programs through improved training, recruiting and fan amenities. The initiative received an $11 million gift from Eric and Candice Hays, the third-largest gift in university history, supporting the baseball and softball improvements as well as a planned indoor football practice facility. The investment builds on previous major gifts that helped advance the project.
The first $4.5 million phase is expected to begin construction in October and wrap up by June 2027. It will add indoor batting cages and a pitching performance lab, giving athletes year-round training opportunities while providing coaches with technology to evaluate and develop players. The second phase, estimated at $12 million, will create a clubhouse with a weight room, training room, locker rooms, coaches’ offices and player lounges adjacent to the ballparks.
The project also aims to enhance the game-day experience with expanded seating and a new hospitality suite. With both baseball and softball reaching the NCAA tournament in 2026, Texas State sees the upgraded facilities as an important resource as it enters the Pac-12 and seeks to compete at a higher level while strengthening its recruiting profile.
Claremont McKenna College unveils new sports complex in Minnesota
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Athletics entered a new era this fall with the opening of the Sports Bowl at Claremont McKenna College’s Roberts Campus. The 35-acre complex began competition Sept. 5, when CMS football hosted the University of Northwestern (Minnesota) at the new Patrick G. Rogan Stadium. The project builds upon the Biszantz Family Tennis Center and Roberts Pavilion, further expanding CMS’ investment in Division III athletics.
The Sports Bowl includes the football stadium, Athenas Field for softball, Arce Field for baseball and a golf training center, while nearby Nakasone Field provides a new home for men’s and women’s soccer. The development also gives teams dedicated year-round locker rooms and support spaces, eliminating the need for programs to share facilities based on season. For baseball, the new field ends a four-year stretch of playing home games at off-campus venues.
Beyond improving training and competition, the complex creates a more connected athletic environment, bringing multiple teams together in one area. Upgraded press boxes and weather-protected workspaces also improve event operations and broadcasts. With major facilities now in place, CMS athletes say the investment raises expectations while providing the resources to pursue greater success.
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SPG Take
The most compelling part of these projects is how many of these facilities are being designed to connect the different pieces of the sports experience under one roof, campus or district.
Blinn College is consolidating training and competition resources to give its athletes a more complete development environment. Texas State is pairing advanced training technology with improved athlete and fan amenities. CMS is bringing multiple programs together in a connected athletics environment. Denver Summit FC takes the concept a step further, envisioning its new stadium as the anchor for an entire recreational district.
The reality is that facilities that serve all parties throughout the year can create considerably more value than venues designed around game day alone.
— Sports Planning Guide
