KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Work continues on Kalamazoo’s new indoor youth sports facility on the city’s west side, and efforts have already begun to make sure it’s busy when it opens a year from now.
Discover Kalamazoo’s Jane Ghosh says the first steel has arrived at the construction site along U.S. 131 and work is on schedule.
She says they have already hired Sports Facilities Companies to oversee operations, linking them into a network of sports facilities and tournament organizers nationwide.
“They are currently drafting their pre-opening and year-one budget, they’re developing a website. They’re actively seeking sponsorships and they’re progressing with getting a tenant for the building.”
She says her staff has been to nine trade shows and other events and begun holding meetings and discussions with prospects.
“We’ve identified more than 100 prospect accounts who plan tournaments or other kind of championship activity that could choose to have their activity here in Kalamazoo County.”
She says basketball and volleyball tourneys are the primary target, but there is also a potential for everything from pickleball, dance, cheerleading, dodgeball, even cornhole and billiard tournaments.
“So that’s the beauty of indoor hardcourt, you can use it 52 weeks a year, almost any sport, and we are out there actively selling it.”
Ghosh says they hope to come up with a name in the next few weeks, begin booking events before the end of the year and hire a general manager to start putting a staff together early next year.
The target is to open next September, in time for the winter sports seasons and all the indoor tourneys that come with them.
Ghosh delivered her update at the most recent Kalamazoo city commission meeting.
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