Source: WENY News
By Linsey Madison, January 2, 2024

ELMIRA, NY (WENY) — A new sports complex is under construction in an old church in downtown Elmira and could open its doors in about two weeks. Empire Sports on North Main Street is getting ready to open its doors for a variety of sports like basketball, cornhole, and volleyball.

“I’ll have kids basketball leagues and training and then I’ll have men’s leagues. I’m going to [have] adult women’s basketball leagues if there’s a demand for it. I’ll have senior cornhole leagues, kids cornhole leagues, open cornhole like it’s a bowling alley [and] monthly tournaments. Then in the spring, I’ll make an outdoor wiffle ball stadium [and there would be] leagues [and tournaments] for that. [There would be] speed training for young athletes [and there would be] space available to rent if you’re in a club [for things like pickleball],” said owner of Empire Sports of the Southern Tier, Ryan McFall.

The Trinity Episcopal Church was built in the mid-1800’s and is known for its Gothic Revival architecture. The Church had its final service in 2020, and now in 2024, the former church is getting some upgrades, while keeping some of its history.

“What you see is what you’re getting. The stained glass windows are staying. I took the pews and what I could save and turned them into bar tops. The pipe organs stay in. The brick structure [and] everything in the building is staying the same. I just took it and upgraded everything,” said McFall.

The North Main Street sports complex is McFall’s second location. He said after he bought the church in September 2023, he used some of the community’s feedback to decide on what to do with it.

“I took [some] community feedback and decided I’d field turf in the cathedral, put batting cages in, put a golf simulator in…what I’m getting a high demand for, we’re gonna try to offer,” said McFall.

McFall said he’s going to try to have something for everyone to play.

“The things I’m getting high demand for, we’re gonna try to offer. So kids six years old to 85[+] years old who want to play cornhole or something [else, can],” said McFall.

McFall hopes to open the cornhole arena in about two weeks (roughly around Jan. 16th) and have the gym, batting cages, and golf simulator open in about a month. He also said he hopes to eventually rent out the space for weddings and birthday/graduation parties.

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Source: WENY News