Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center Supports Springfield’s Long-Term Growth Strategy
September 11, 2026
For companies considering new locations, quality of place is now central to site selection. Employers compete for talent, and today’s workforce seeks communities with strong amenities, vibrant downtowns, recreation options, and a high quality of life.
Springfield's planned Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center is more than a recreation project. It is a key part of a broader strategy to drive economic growth, attract investment, and create a downtown that serves residents, visitors, employers, and future workers.
As Springfield continues to add housing, expand entertainment options, and attract new private investment, the Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center, planned to open in Fall 2027, marks another step in building a community where businesses can recruit and retain employees and support long-term economic development.
Downtown Investment Continues to Build Momentum
The Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center is part of this broader revitalization.
The planned 85,000-square-foot facility will offer recreation, health and wellness programs, education, community events, conventions, and sports in one location.
The facility will be owned and operated by the Clark County Convention Facilities Authority, the project is a $25 million investment designed to serve residents and increase visitor activity year-round.
The center complements other public and private investments that are reshaping downtown.
Long-term Planning Helped Move the Project Forward
Projects of this scale require years of planning, funding, and coordination.
Planning for the Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center began in 2016. Since then, project partners have managed rising construction costs, supply chain disruptions, and inflation while advancing the project.
Estimated construction costs rose from approximately $17 million to $25 million due to nationwide increases in labor and material costs.
Approximately $15 million has already been secured through a combination of:
- State capital funding
- Clark County Convention Facilities Authority investment
- Convention and Visitors Bureau support
- Contributions from local foundations, including the Crabill Family Foundation, Carleton F. & Ruth T. Davidson Trust, Turner Foundation, Walter S. Quinlan Foundation, Springfield Foundation, and Wilson Sheehan Foundation
The operating model provides long-term stability. Project leaders have stated the facility will NOT rely on local tax levies or ongoing government operating support.
This sustained collaboration demonstrates Springfield's ability to move complex projects from concept to implementation.
The Facility Supports Quality of Life and Workforce Attraction
Today’s workforce evaluates communities as carefully as employers evaluate candidates.
Access to recreation, wellness opportunities, family activities, and community programming influences where people choose to live and remain long-term.
The Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center was designed with daily community use in mind. Approximately 70 percent of scheduled use will be reserved for local programming rather than tournaments.
The flexible facility will include:
- Eight basketball courts that convert into 16 volleyball courts or 24 pickleball courts
- Youth sports leagues
- Public fitness programs
- Walking opportunities
- Summer camps
- Community wellness activities
- Family recreation programs
- Police Athletic League activities
- Educational programming
- Convention and event space
This broad mix of uses creates value beyond athletics by serving residents across multiple age groups throughout the year.
For employers, investments like these help create communities that appeal to current employees and prospective talent.
Education Programs Connect Students With Future Careers
The center also advances Springfield's workforce development strategy. Plans include XtremeSTEM programming to introduce students to careers in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, engineering, robotics, and emerging technologies.
Programs under consideration include:
- Drone Soccer
- XtremeBOTS
- Xtreme3D
These activities give students practical experience while encouraging teamwork, problem-solving, and technical skills.
Economic development depends on more than recruiting companies. It also requires developing future workers who understand modern industries and can build relevant skills early. By connecting education with career exploration, the center complements workforce initiatives already taking place across Clark County.
Visitors Support Local Businesses Throughout the Year
While community programming is the primary focus, tourism also contributes to the project's long-term value.
Current projections estimate approximately 26 tournament weekends annually, along with eight to ten conventions or trade shows each year.
These events generate additional spending in Springfield as visitors use local businesses before, during, and after their events.
Potential economic activity includes:
- Hotel stays
- Restaurant visits
- Retail shopping
- Entertainment spending
- Local attractions
- Additional sales tax revenue
Project leaders also anticipate future hotel development near the facility, creating additional opportunities for private investment downtown.
Increasing visitor activity helps diversify the local economy while supporting businesses that serve both residents and guests.
The Project Reflects Springfield's Economic Development Strategy
Successful economic development requires coordinated investments.
Business recruitment remains important, but companies also consider workforce availability, community amenities, housing, education, and quality of life when selecting locations.
Springfield continues to advance each of these priorities. Recent investments in housing, downtown redevelopment, workforce initiatives, recreation, and public infrastructure have created a stronger environment for employers considering expansion or relocation.
The Champion City Sports + Community Wellness Center supports this strategy by creating a community asset that benefits residents and supports tourism, private investment, and talent attraction.
As planning and fundraising continue, the project demonstrates long-term confidence in Springfield's future and the partnerships that move the community forward.
Learn More About Investing in Greater Springfield
Businesses considering expansion need communities that invest in both economic growth and quality of life.
EXPAND Greater Springfield partners with companies exploring relocation, expansion, workforce solutions, and site selection opportunities throughout Clark County.