Planning for a potential 4,000seat indoor sports and entertainment complex ticked forward last Tuesday with a public forum at Spoon River College’s Macomb campus.
City officials and representatives from Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) met with residents to discuss the project, which remains in the exploratory phase.
Public meetings and visioning sessions are scheduled through December as the city gathers input before deciding whether to proceed with the estimated $60 million development. A final decision to move into a project development phase could come as early as April.
Officials say funding would require a sales tax increase in creating a business district, but they have ruled out any hike in property taxes, calling that a non-starter.
Preliminary estimates presented Tuesday suggest the complex could generate $15.5 million annually in direct spending for Macomb and attract more than 24,000 additional hotel room bookings each year.
Early design concepts include 16 basketball courts, eight volleyball courts, a family fun center, and space for a medical tenant likely focused on athletic training and physical rehabilitation.
The public forum phase will continue through December. City leaders are proceeding cautiously, building in multiple offramps to cancel the project if financial projections falter.
Gary Smallshaw, strategic advisor for SFC, said a study is underway to assess the potential sales tax impact on Macomb. The analysis is being conducted by Integra Realty Resources (IRR).
“We’ve defined the sports facility itself and how it will perform operationally,” Smallshaw said. “Now the financial team is quantifying not just the economic impact of the facility, but the retail and commercial development it will attract.”
Smallshaw described the sports complex as an anchor for a broader retail district. “Ninety percent of the money spent is outside the walls of the sports complex. Families need hotels and restaurants,” he said.
He added the project team is unique for its thorough research and community outreach, led by Mayor Mike Inman, Macomb Area Economic Development CEO Kim Pierce, City Administrator Scott Coker, and Community Development Director Miranda Lambert. They have toured similar facilities in Illinois, North Carolina, and Kansas and narrowed 10 potential sites down to two preferred locations.
“This isn’t about typical fast food and a few retail pads. We want a development with a strong sense of place that attracts the right kind of businesses,” Smallshaw said.
The team is looking to Mattoon’s successful sports complex as a rough model. “Mattoon’s retail isn’t right at the complex but nearby. We believe there’s a way to create an elevated customer experience that aligns with emerging industry trends,” Smallshaw said.
