Game on: $28M indoor sports complex coming to Erie County

SANDUSKY — Consider it a double-play combination where children from across the nation can compete on neighboring world-class facilities in Erie County.During Thursday's public county commission meeting, a host of entities came to terms on constructing a $28 million indoor youth athletic complex. It'll be located next to the outdoor Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky.Among the project's primary partners working on a deal for months: Erie County commissioners, Cedar Fair executives, Firelands Regional Medical Center representatives, Sandusky officials and others.Here's the tentative game plan for the forthcoming initiative:Q: What would go inside the complex?A: The 185,000-square-foot facility would consist of:• Hardwood floors catering to 10 regulation-sized basketball courts, which can convert into 20 regulation-sized volleyball courts; A management team would market the property in hopes of enticing and then registering youth teams from across the country to play tournament games here.• A "championship arena" with retractable seating for fans to watch the game• A sports medicine and orthopedics facility paid for, developed and supervised by Firelands Regional Medical Center• An indoor walking track, open for community use• A grand lobby, or mezzanine, with event space available to rent out for community functions• The opportunity to provide a shovel-ready site for a community fitness center and natatorium or aquatic centerAdditionally, outside the facility, officials envision plans for a waterfront public park, consisting of bicycle trails, birding observation platforms, launch spots for canoes and kayaks along with other amenities.Project stakeholders still need to figure out a management company to run the indoor complex. It's possible those running the adjacent Sports Force property — they oversee 10 fields either exclusively or adaptable for baseball, lacrosse, soccer and softball play — could supervise it as well.Several local entities on Thursday came to terms on building a $28 million indoor sports complex on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky beside Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center. The facility would house basketball courts, volleyball playing areas, a medical facility and more. Q: What's the expected construction timeline?A: It's believed work could start in spring 2018 and end by early 2019, ready for competition and play at this time.Q: What benefits would this facility deliver to Erie County?A: Initial projections show the facility attracting more than 70,000 additional visitors annually, generating:• About $20 million annually in new economic impact through tourists spending disposable income at area hotels, restaurants, stores, gas stations, attractions and more• About $700,000 annually in new tax revenues going toward local school districts, governments and other public servicesMore specifically, an indoor facility can help fill hotels, motels and lodges during winter and produce many more year-round jobs, creating "an overall improvement in the local labor market and workforce development opportunities," according to project stakeholders.Q: If approved, how will the $28 million indoor sports complex be funded?A: Funding breaks down into two major components:• About $5 million is coming from Cedar Fair, which is also assuming all operating risk, which includes covering any yearly operating losses. The Sandusky-headquartered corporation, which oversees Cedar Point, would also own the land and pay all related real estate taxes.• About $23 million is coming from bed tax money, a fee tacked onto overnight stays in area motels, hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts and the like tourists primarily pay forErie County officials promised not to dedicate, spend or raise any local tax to pay for this project, largely catering to tourists.It's a similar funding mechanism to subsidizing the $23.5 million Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center outdoor facility, either exclusively or adaptable for baseball, lacrosse, soccer and softball play.Several local entities on Thursday came to terms on building a $28 million indoor sports complex on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky beside Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center. The facility would house basketball courts, volleyball playing areas, a medical facility and more. Q: Who supports the deal?A: Among those part of the team who worked on this deal:• Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo: Ohio law is very clear that these dollars can only be used for tourist-related activities. This will allow us to leverage existing infrastructure, such as 8,000 hotel rooms that primarily are empty in the offseason, and bring in additional revenue — through sales tax, bed tax and real estate tax — that we can use to support public operations to enhance our community.• Outgoing Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet: We are very appreciative of the ongoing collaboration with Erie County and our other community partners. The construction of a new first-class indoor amateur sports facility in Sandusky will extend the sports tournament season year-round and have tremendous economic impact for Erie County for years to come. Along with the many other area assets, the new facility will solidify the Lake Erie Shores and Islands region as America's sports and family fun capital.• Erie County commissioner Matt Old: It's important people understand this is not coming out of their sales tax or property tax money. This is being paid for with a tax paid for by visitors coming to our area. It's great to be able to partner with Cedar Point on another world-class project.• Incoming Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman: We are proud to be a partner in a community that is actively planning for the future. We look forward to building on the momentum created by the Sports Force Park at Cedar Point and breaking ground on what promises to be a terrific venue in the spring of 2018.Several local entities on Thursday came to terms on building a $28 million indoor sports complex on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky beside Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center. The facility would house basketball courts, volleyball playing areas, a medical facility and more. • Firelands Regional Medical Center president and CEO Martin Tursky: We are extremely excited to collaborate with Cedar Fair on this project to bring a world-class, state-of-the-art indoor sports facility to young athletes. Our hope is that this facility will help them develop healthy, active lifestyles and gain skills for success on the field. We want to inspire athletes of all ages and ability levels to reach their full potential. We also want to thank our county commissioners for seeing the benefits of this indoor facility. Without their support, this dream would not become a reality.• Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr.: This is an amazing opportunity to leverage our current entertainment assets, including hotels and restaurants, and put them to use during the offseason and, at the same time, increase wages, business revenues and government tax receipts at all levels. It sounds like magic, but it's really just plain brilliant.• Lake Erie Shores & Islands executive director Larry Fletcher: We are excited to have the opportunity to continue our collaboration with the community to add momentum to the outdoor facility. Our area hoteliers have indicated strong support for this project.• Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser: The partnership between Cedar Fair and Erie County will add another major attraction to an already thriving destination community.• The Sport Force's president Brian Storm: An indoor complex in this community, based on the success of the outdoor complex, make sense, and it will be another nice addition for the community.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.