Construction has started on the long-awaited Scheels Sports Park, a $67 million sports complex and sports tourism destination, reported the Illinois Times. The complex will include turf fields for soccer, softball, rugby, lacrosse, football, and baseball, while a 190,000-square-foot domed structure will have eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, and turf training areas.

City officials expect the park to be a popular destination for traveling athletic teams throughout the Midwest and beyond, per the outlet. “This puts Springfield on the map for sports tourism,” said Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher. The groundbreaking comes after a multi-year effort to create the 95-acre indoor and outdoor site. The complex is expected to open by the end of 2025.

Sales taxes and hotel-motel taxes paid in the city over a 23-year period are expected to pay for half of the complex’s construction costs, totaling about $33.5 million. The rest will be financed by the developers and the local Bank of Springfield.

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Source: connectcre