An indoor sports complex would generate millions of dollars in annual economic activity in the community, but the city council has not voted on whether to proceed with the project.
“This is a big project that’s being proposed, but I think it’s something that could be really a game changer for our community,” City Administrator Scott Coker told city council members during Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.
He called it a sports tourism project that would bring in people to visit, spend the night, and spend money in Macomb.
The price tag and the benefits
Sports Facilities Companies conducted a feasibility study for $47,000, with the city covering much of that cost.
Kaliegh Hincman, an account executive with the company, told the city council that the complex would make Macomb a regional sports tourism destination, drawing visitors from up to four hours away.
The building would consist of two pods of four courts each.
“The closest sports tourism, court-based facility to Macomb is in Bettendorf, Iowa, with an eight-court basketball court,” Hincman said.
She said the two pods would provide flexibility, and that the facility could host tournaments for basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, and wrestling. Other events might also include trade shows, graduations, and concerts.
“$58.4 million is what we anticipate this facility to cost to construct,” said Hincman, adding the cost could be anywhere in the range of $52.7 million to $64.1 million.
The study indicates Macomb can anticipate hosting 24 tournaments in the first year, and up to 34 tournaments by the fourth year.
The facility would have an estimated operating deficit of $400,000 per year, but city leaders said that would be more than offset by the projected economic activity it creates.
It would generate an estimated $7.4 million of spending in the community in the first year and $15.5 million by the fifth year.
“So, a great opportunity for the community to drive non-local visitors to spend money in the market, when they wouldn’t if this facility was not there,” Hincman said.
The total complex would require 8.18 acres. A site has not been chosen, though possible sites mentioned in the report include land east of Veterans Park and locations south of Jackson Street on the city’s far east side.
Hincman said it generally takes two-to-three years to go from concept to concrete.
Paying for the project
Mayor Mike Inman said the city will not hike property taxes if it decides to build the sports complex.
“That’s just not on the table by any means,” Inman said. “We’ll look at other options for how to fund it, and we’ll see how those all work.”
Inman said one possibility is for Macomb to create a business development district, and then levy a sales tax of up to one-percent on items sold in the district. The revenue generated would then be spent on projects within the district, which would include the sports complex.
Inman said if the city proceeds with the project, there will be a need for additional hotel rooms in Macomb.
“If the answer is yes, then obviously MAEDCO (Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation) and the mayor’s office have some opportunities to go out and talk about that,” Inman said.
He thinks the complex would offer the sustained programming needed to attract visitors and fill hotel rooms on a regular basis.
Like the others, Inman sees this as an economic development project.
“This is to bring non-local visitors and dollars into the community,” he said.
A decision is needed soon
Inman said the council’s community development committee will now review and discuss the plan, including how to pay for it.
Inman said this is a big decision, and that it needs to be made fairly soon.
“I think our hope would be, as we sit here today, would be to have some direction for us to proceed with in the next 90 days or so,” he said.
The city would own the facility and hire an outside firm to manage it.
The city is partnering on the project with the Macomb Park District, McDonough County, MAEDCO, the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce, McDonough District Hospital, the YMCA, and Regional Office of Education 26.
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