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A $15-$20 million sports complex is proposed to Springfield City Council.
image captured by Christine Morton
A $15-$20 million sports complex is proposed to Springfield City Council.

Council reviews proposed sports complex in northwest

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A $15-$20 million multisport complex might be on the way for the residents of Springfield. 

What started as a soccer complex this summer has expanded to include venues for volleyball, martial arts and football, said project architect Rob Haik, a principal with H Design Group LLC.

The new plan was shared with Springfield City Council members during their lunch meeting Nov. 3. 

“We have gathered and realized we could do a lot more than just soccer,” Haik said in an interview this morning“By going this path, it offers a more integrated approach with our community, which I think is better.”   

He said the idea expanded to build a 90,000-square-foot venue to include basketball courts, an indoor soccer turf field and a cafe. Plans call for one –outdoor turf field and 11 grass fields, with the possibility for two additional fields to be built in the future. 

The proposed development site is in northwest Springfield near the Springfield-Branson National Airport and Chestnut Expressway corridor. A goal of the project is to increase revenues from hospitality and retail businesses by hosting large regional and national tournaments, according to a PowerPoint presentation at the council meetingAfter looking over a sports tourism report from the Phoenix-based consulting company Huddle Up Group from last fall, Haik said there is a need for more courts and fields to play sports.  

Tulsa, Oklahoma-developer Rob Phillips of Philcrest Properties plans to invest $10-$12 million in the project, Haik said. Philips owns 120 acres next to the Deer Lake Golf Club, Haik said. One of the organizers of the complex is Stan Liedel, who manages Titan Sports and Performance Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

“They booked their entire complex for the next year already,” Haik said. “Stan is pretty knowledgeable in what he can do with this facility.”  

Businessman and philanthropist Bobby Allison has pledged $3-$3.5 million for fields and signage with naming rights. Allison is known for donating funds toward recreational facility improvements, according to past Springfield Business reporting.  

 The developers are asking the city to provide $4.4 million in infrastructure improvements near the location, Haik said. The infrastructure costs include the annexation of the property along with a section of Deer Lake Golf Club, the addition of gas, water, sewer, storm, streets and a suggested public road to run north-south connecting Airport Boulevard to the I-44 outer road, according to the developer’s PowerPoint presentation. 

City spokesperson Cora Scott said the proposal is not yet scheduled to come before council. 

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