New complexes, stadiums and performance centers from Texas to Ireland highlight the expanding role of sports-driven development and tourism
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City leaders in Odessa, Texas break ground on a new sports complex
Odessa, Texas, officially broke ground on a $140 million sports complex at the end of North Faudree Road, marking a major milestone in a project nearly three years in the making. Built on 100 acres donated by Larry Bell and his family, the development includes the seven-acre Amy Bell Park and is scheduled for completion in early 2028. City leaders framed the moment as both a community investment and a long-term economic play.
At the heart of the project is a 140,000-square-foot indoor facility featuring 10 basketball courts, 20 volleyball courts, pickleball space and dedicated fitness and training areas. Outdoors, the complex will offer 10 rectangular fields for soccer and football, 12 baseball and softball diamonds, and a community amphitheater designed for events and performances.
Mayor Cal Hendrick emphasized the complex’s role in hosting regional tournaments while building character and opportunity for local youth. City officials anticipate significant tourism-driven economic impact alongside lasting benefits for Odessa families.
Chicago Stars FC plan for a new performance center in northern suburbs
Chicago Stars FC is moving forward with plans for a new performance center, marking a significant next step in the club’s long-term growth and investment in women’s professional soccer. Partnering with Populous and Marquee Development, the NWSL club has secured a 10-acre site in Bannockburn, Illinois, that will serve as the team’s centralized training base and operational hub. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, with full team operations targeted for 2027.
The sustainably designed complex will include two full-size soccer pitches, a goalkeeper-specific field and a 45,000-square-foot adaptive re-use building. Interior spaces will prioritize high-performance training, recovery, strength, and mental wellness, with seamless indoor-outdoor connectivity built into the design. Club leadership emphasized that the facility is intended to meet the specific needs of elite female athletes while setting a new standard across the league.
Located near the Stars’ home venue in Evanston, the Bannockburn site also positions the club within a growing regional sports corridor. Beyond performance benefits, the project creates opportunities for partnerships, community engagement and long-term commercial growth.
South Laredo, Texas officially opens $45M Buena Vista Sports Complex
Laredo officially opened the $45 million Buena Vista Sports Complex this week, marking a major milestone for youth sports and economic development in the city’s south side. City leaders, families and young athletes gathered under the lights for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought Phase 1 of the nearly 200-acre complex into public use along Cuatro Vientos Road.
Phase 1 delivers 10 artificial turf baseball and softball fields, two multipurpose turf fields for soccer and football, and full lighting for evening play. Funded through a voter-approved sales tax, the complex is designed to serve both local leagues and large-scale tournaments, with city officials noting early interest from more than 30 teams and growing attention from nearby hospitality and retail developers.
The opening also honored the late J.J. Gomez, longtime United High School baseball coach and Parks and Recreation director, with the Championship Field dedicated in his name. City leaders confirmed Phase 2 is already approved, adding more fields, public spaces and future amenities.
Oneida County, New York has plans for a gigantic sports venue at Griffiss Airport
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John Alario Jr. Youth Sports Complex officially opens in Jefferson Parish
South of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, officially opened the $45 million John Alario Jr. Youth Sports Complex, immediately positioning the 147-acre facility as a regional tournament draw with bookings already secured through 2028. The complex will host its first event on February 21, welcoming up to 100 teams for a 7-on-7 football tournament, with a packed calendar that includes baseball, softball, and multi-sport showcases. Officials view the early demand as validation of the parish’s long-term investment in youth sports tourism.
The complex features four multipurpose artificial turf fields capable of hosting 12 youth baseball games simultaneously, while also accommodating football, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, and softball. Operated by Champions Sports Management, the facility includes concessions, a pavilion, retail space, and public restrooms. The operator will invest $1 million toward an administrative building, matched by the parish, with future plans for dormitories and dining pending state support.
Local leaders say the complex fills a critical gap, capturing tournament-driven spending that once bypassed Jefferson Parish while catalyzing nearby hotel and commercial development.
Former Trinity campus in Illinois is to become a new youth sports complex
A former college campus in Bannockburn, Illinois, is poised for a dramatic change into a youth sports destination following a $20 million acquisition by local operators Anthony and Anna Donato. The 114-acre Trinity International University site, purchased at a steep discount, positions the project as a rare large-scale adaptive reuse with regional tournament potential.
Plans center on a 300,000- to 400,000-square-foot indoor arena replacing the existing Meyer Sports Complex. The facility would house basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer, with an ice rink under consideration, supported by existing outdoor fields already spread across the campus. The Donatos estimate total investment at $60 to $70 million, with construction targeted within 18 months pending approvals.
Beyond competition, the vision includes golf simulators, entertainment amenities, camps and corporate retreats. Combined with the nearby Red Stars’ planned training center, the project signals the emergence of a concentrated sports district in Chicago’s northern suburbs.
A new winter sports arena in Dublin, Ireland is in the works
Plans for a major winter sports arena in south Dublin, Ireland, are gaining momentum, as Prime Arena Holdings advances a proposed €190 million development in Cherrywood. The project centers on a 6,000-seat indoor arena with two Olympic-sized ice rinks on an eight-acre site, designed to establish Ireland’s first permanent home for elite ice sports and a future ice hockey franchise. Planning documents are expected to be submitted in the first half of 2026.
The proposal has attracted broad support from business, tourism and sporting organizations, including Ibec, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and the Olympic Federation of Ireland. International partners from the ice hockey and broadcast sectors have also endorsed the project, signaling confidence in its national and international potential.
Beyond sport, the arena is envisioned as a year-round events venue capable of hosting concerts and corporate gatherings. Developers estimate 1.3 million annual visitors, positioning the facility as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and Ireland’s emergence as a global winter sports destination.
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