SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Doris Turner celebrated the opening of the new SCHEELS Sports Park complex Tuesday. Projections indicate the facility will attract 250,000 annual visitors, generate an estimated $25 million in annual economic activity, and bring a significant boost to Springfield’s tourism industry. The new complex will also allow youth in Springfield and the surrounding area to access new, state-of-the-art sports facilities that provide opportunities for healthy physical activity and community engagement.
“The SCHEELS Sports Park development has been years in the making, but it’s not just a park — it will serve as a premier destination for a wide range of family-friendly and community events,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We are seeing hundreds of people, from athletes to spectators to organizers, come to Springfield for tournaments each weekend, boosting our local economy and bringing in tourism dollars. This facility will have a lasting effect on the Springfield community for decades to come.”
The state and private local partners joined together to fund the $60 million investment as a means to boost economic development in the region and enhance Illinois’ tourism infrastructure. The facility features the world’s largest air-supported dome, as well as spaces to host indoor and outdoor sporting events and entertainment programs. Located nearby is Springfield’s SCHEELS sporting goods store at Legacy Pointe, as well as several restaurants, retailers, hotels, and more that have sprung up in the growing commercial area.
With the capacity provided by the new complex, the state’s ability to host large competitions and events will expand, further driving tourism efforts forward and increasing economic activity in the region. Early development activity associated with the SCHEELS Sports Park project has already begun, with a new 91-room hotel property in the surrounding area underway to help accommodate the influx of visitors in the years to come. The sports park is expected to draw approximately 50,000 overnight stays in the Springfield area.
“Today is not just a ribbon cutting, it’s a statement reflecting the commitment from community leaders and stakeholders working together to shape the city of Springfield into a destination to visit for families across the country,” said State Representative Mike Coffey (R-Springfield).
