New domes, stadiums, mixed-use districts and high-tech facilities signal a new chapter for community sports investment
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Proctor, Minnesota, advances NXS National Complex, a major 90-acre sports and tourism development
Proctor, Minnesota, is moving forward with one of its most significant sports-tourism investments in decades as plans take shape for the NXS National Complex. This three-phase, 90-acre development will add a multi-sport dome, housing, restaurants and a hotel to the land surrounding the city’s 2018 ice arena. After nearly ten years of feasibility and economic studies, local leaders say the project will finally give Proctor a meaningful foothold in northern Minnesota’s growing tourism economy. Groundbreaking for Phase One is expected in spring 2026.
The centerpiece of the development is a versatile indoor dome capable of hosting several sports at once. The design includes two indoor softball fields, golf and baseball training areas, free-weight spaces and four tournament-sized basketball courts that can convert for volleyball or pickleball. For Northland teams that routinely travel early in the season due to weather, the ability to train locally year-round will be a major advantage. Facility operators anticipate heavy demand, with programming expected to run nearly around the clock.
The surrounding mixed-use district will add apartments, dining, retail and lodging, creating a full-service destination that boosts Proctor’s economic activity. Community leaders believe the project will help the city capture a fair share of regional tourism and elevate its profile within the Duluth-area market. As Proctor Economic Development Authority chairman Eric Madson noted, the aim is not to dominate tourism but to participate in it in a meaningful and competitive way.
Cosm to anchor new Rock Block Entertainment District in Cleveland, Ohio
Downtown Cleveland, Ohio, is taking a bold step into the future of sports and entertainment as Bedrock and Rock Entertainment Group move forward with plans to anchor the new Rock Block development with a cutting-edge Cosm venue. The California-based tech and entertainment company will bring its signature domed theater—an immersive, planetarium-style experience that streams live sports, concerts and performances—to the corner of East Fourth Street and Huron Road. With partnerships that span FOX Sports, ESPN and multiple pro leagues, the venue will give fans a new “shared reality” way to watch everything from football and MMA to Cirque du Soleil.
Construction on the four-story, 50,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin early next year, with doors opening in the first half of 2027. The venue will feature a rooftop patio overlooking the Cleveland skyline, a sports bar lined with massive screens and an outdoor gathering space—all elements designed to activate the surrounding 3-acre site and pull more foot traffic into the Gateway District. Bedrock is planning additional mixed-use elements around the venue, exploring options for hotels, offices and experiential retail.
The announcement marks the first major step in reimagining the long-stalled development site, which has undergone years of unrealized proposals. For city officials and Cavs leadership, Cosm represents both momentum and opportunity. It’s an attraction intended to complement Bedrock’s massive $3.5 billion riverfront plan and strengthen Cleveland’s identity as a sports and entertainment hub. Mayor Justin Bibb said the project reflects the “spirit and resilience” of the community and will help reshape downtown for years to come.
Bonney Lake moves forward with new multi-sport complex in Pierce County, Washington
A long-envisioned sports destination in east Pierce County is moving closer to reality as Bonney Lake prepares to sell the 20-acre Reed Property for a new multi-sport complex led by Mt. Rainier Futbol Club. The project, which was first conceived in 2023, has evolved into a public-private partnership that will deliver free, year-round recreation for local families, including a covered pickleball pavilion with 10 courts, two grass fields for soccer and lacrosse and an educational trail connecting directly to the Foothills Trail. The plan gained momentum after the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office awarded $2.7 million in grants, giving the development its first major funding foundation.
For project leader Cathy Dahlquist, the complex represents both a personal journey and a community-driven vision. After discovering pickleball during a difficult period, she partnered with MRFC president Scott Knall to design a facility that blends recreation, accessibility and long-term public benefit. Their goal is to create a regional asset built through collaborative support rather than taxpayer burden.
The upcoming land sale is the critical next step. Following an August public hearing, the city expects to declare the property surplus, clearing the way for purchase, design and engineering work. Pickleball courts will be built first, with an estimated opening between fall 2026 and spring 2027, followed by field development and a tribal-supported trailhead. Dahlquist said the team is committed to “seeing it through to the end—whatever it takes.”
Lubbock Game Changers announce plans for a new indoor sports facility in Lubbock, Texas
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Construction progress on the upcoming CarShield Sportsplex in Chesterfield, Missouri
Construction on CarShield Sportsplex continues to gain momentum as the shell nears completion and crews work to dry in the building. Grading has begun on the outdoor fields, while underground utility work is now underway at the hockey rinks, which are key steps that signal rapid progress across the 33-acre site. With framing and enclosure advancing in tandem, the project remains on track for major milestones ahead of its anticipated 2026 opening.
When complete, the 335,000-square-foot CarShield Sportsplex will be one of the Midwest’s premier youth sports destinations. The facility will feature two full-size hockey rinks, four indoor 9v9 turf fields and three full-size outdoor fields, supported by a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, event rooms, a mezzanine-level training gym, synthetic ice lanes, skating treadmills and high-end locker rooms. Designed around the needs of CarShield’s growing soccer and AAA hockey programs, the complex will offer a seamless, all-in-one experience for athletes and families.
The project reflects years of planning and a shared vision between CarShield, Keystone Construction and local partners to elevate youth sports in Chesterfield Valley, Missouri. Leaders describe it as a passion project built to exceed traditional facility standards—an upscale, tournament-ready hub intended to keep pace with the region’s booming sports economy. With more than 500 athletes and 45 teams set to call it home, the Sportsplex is poised to transform how young players train, compete and connect in the St. Louis area.
TCU unveils $50 million recovery center in Fort Worth, Texas, featuring the nation’s first snow room
Texas Christian University (TCU) has opened one of the most distinctive recovery facilities in college athletics, reshaping how student-athletes train, cool down and prepare for the next practice. The Simpson Family Restoration and Wellness Center is part of a larger $50 million investment in TCU athletics, but it has quickly become the most talked-about piece of the project. The 10,000-square-foot center officially opened to fall sport athletes this month and introduces a level of innovation rarely seen in the collegiate landscape.
The headline attraction is the Snow Room, a sub-freezing chamber that creates continuous purple snow flurries to match school colors. It can hold up to ten athletes at a time and provides a controlled cold-therapy environment that accelerates recovery after intense workouts. While the Snow Room has captured national attention, it is only one component of a comprehensive recovery ecosystem that includes cryotherapy, a hydrotherapy pool, red light therapy, hydro-massage pods, targeted heat-and-cold chairs and multiple quiet zones designed for physical and mental reset.
Early glimpses from student-athletes reveal a center built with intentionality, comfort and performance science in mind. TCU expects the facility to play a significant role in athlete wellness and recruiting, reinforcing the university’s commitment to high-level care and long-term competitive strength.
Cincinnati, Ohio, advances on $830 million plan to transform Paycor Stadium by 2029
Cincinnati, Ohio, is moving forward with an $830 million renovation of Paycor Stadium, a project that will reshape one of the NFL’s most recognizable venues while strengthening the Bengals’ long-term future downtown. The agreement between Hamilton County and the team lays the groundwork for modernizing a 65,000-seat stadium that has anchored the riverfront since 2000. Leaders view the upgrade as a chance to honor the venue’s history while positioning it to meet the expectations of today’s fans and the rapidly evolving sports-entertainment market.
The renovation will unfold in two major phases. The Bengals will fund upgrades to the East and West Club Lounges, all 132 suites and concession areas, creating a more polished and comfortable fan environment. Meanwhile, the county will address essential infrastructure, including elevators, stairwells, electrical systems and code-required improvements. Updates to gameday operations spaces, including the scoreboard control room, are also planned. Officials aim to complete the full transformation by 2029, ensuring Paycor Stadium remains competitive with newer NFL facilities.
The agreement follows months of tense negotiation, underscoring the high stakes of a project that impacts both the franchise and the city’s broader economic future. With an MOU now in place, the renovation signals Cincinnati’s commitment to revitalizing its riverfront, elevating the fan experience and reinforcing the stadium’s role as a cultural and economic anchor for the region.
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