The full-court press on Cedar Point's $42M sports center

SANDUSKY — It's game on for a state-of-the-art athletics facility, set for a debut next year, involving area executives matching up with a reputable management company.Several dignitaries toured through a worksite Wednesday at the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6). While separately operated, the center resides beside its sister outdoor site: Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center.The $42 million Cedar Point Sports Center totals more than 200,000 square feet on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky. The facility will house space for basketball, volleyball, a health center and more.Mosser Construction representatives led a tour, inviting Cedar Fair executives, area government representatives, other project stakeholders and the Register.Crew leaders navigated about 30 people through the $42 million facility's footprint, totaling more than 200,000 square feet. Earlier projections pegged the building's expense at $50 million.They expressed confidence about concluding construction work sometime later this year. Then those working for Cedar Fair and Sports Facilities Management — the company hired by Cedar Point's parent company to coordinate processes for scheduling games, booking teams, marketing the site, among other aspects — remained optimistic about launching the center for games by Jan. 1, 2020.Sports Facilities Management and its affiliated company, Sports Facilities Advisory, oversee a portfolio exceeding $6 billion in sports and entertainment centers. The firm manages about 15 venues across the U.S., including in Chicago and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.The firm wants to attract youth-based teams from all across North America to play tournaments there. There's also an opportunity for local teams, such as high school varsity squads, to practice and play at this facility.Construction crews work on building a space, where people will play basketball and volleyball, at the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky.What's inside the center?Blueprints developed by both Cedar Fair and Sports Facilities Management executives show the facility housing:• Hardwood floors that can convert to nine NBA-regulation-sized basketball courts, 20 regulation-sized volleyball courts or a gymnastic arenaAn artist rendering shows an interior portion of the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky. The area pictured features a place where people can play basketball.• A "championship arena" with retractable seating for fans to watch the game• A sports wellness center paid for, developed and supervised by Firelands Regional Medical Center, open for community use• Various recreational activities, such as climbing walls, a "ninja warrior" course and an arcade• A grand lobby, or mezzanine, with event space available to rent out for community functions• An indoor walking track, open for community useAn artist rendering shows an interior portion of the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky. The area pictured features a grand lobby and indoor walking track.At this time, executives won't pursue a recreation center, an idea previously bandied about when the Sandusky Area YMCA closed in late 2018.A forthcoming facility represents a continued regional effort. Executives want to entice more people into Erie County by embracing a relatively new sport-related tourism segment and capitalizing on its billion-dollar industry."The new indoor facility combined with the existing first-class outdoor facility and the private development of an onsite orthopedics and sports medicine center make this a one-of-a-kind collection of first-class facilities that will both benefit area residents and drive year-round tourism to the Lake Erie shores and islands region," said Duff Milkie, Cedar Fair's general counsel and executive vice president.Speaking upVarious executives and local officials involved with the Cedar Point Sports Center spoke on its importance Wednesday during a tour of the $42 million facility:• Erie County commissioner Matt Old: The new sports center will be a world-class facility right here in Erie County. This facility will bring families from all over the country to experience our area while giving our local teams access to new competition.• Sports Facilities Management account executive Jessica Vanco: What makes it stand out is the partnership, which is a big deal for the community. When folks travel here, not only can they go to (Cedar Point) and play basketball, volleyball and gymnastics here, but, with the redevelopment that is happening in Sandusky, it's just going to make the experience more well-rounded for folks who come into the market.• Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser: The partnership between Cedar Fair, Firelands Regional Medical Center, and Erie County at the Cedar Point Sports Center is transformative for the entire region. It is an example of what's possible when we work together to build on our competitive advantages to grow the regional economy. Sandusky is grateful for this investment and looks forward to generations of new visitors who will become frequent visitors to the Lake Erie shores and islands region.An artist rendering shows an interior portion of the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky. The area pictured features a place where people can play basketball.• Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo: With the outdoor Sports Force facility already exceeding our original five-year forecasts, we are optimistic entering into a new indoor sports market. Sports Facilities Management is one of the country's premier sports management companies and that, combined with Cedar Point's expertise, should make our area the top go-to location for travel sports in the entire Midwest.• Sports Facilities Management vice president of operations Jack Adams: This facility is state of the art. It's extraordinary, and, in partnership with (Cedar Point), it's going to be a big draw for teams that have a lot of other choices with other facilities around the country. This facility is going to attract more teams and more event rights holders than someone without those kind of assets in the surrounding community.• Sandusky city commissioner Dick Brady: The decision by Cedar Fair to expand their outdoor investment with a complementary indoor facility demonstrates their commitment to our community. This property has the potential to be an economic catalyst to the entire area. The real beneficiaries will be the thousands of young and old visitors who play on these courts as well as the parents and grandparents who will watch them enjoying their sport in a world-class facility. Once again Cedar Fair will prove that, "If you build it, they will come."A beam signed by project stakeholders is installed at the construction site of the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) in Sandusky on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.Making sense of the dollars and centsHere's how the Cedar Point Sports Center's funding break down:• $23 million: funds coming from Erie County through bed tax money, a fee assessed onto people, mostly tourists, whenever staying in area hotels, motels, lodges, Airbnb or VRBO properties, bed and breakfasts and the like• $11 million: funds coming from Firelands Regional Medical Center, which includes money from donors• $6 million: funds coming from Cedar Fair, Cedar Point's parent company, 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.• $2 million: funds coming from Sandusky through a tax-financing arrangementNote: Officials predict the center to generate $20 million annually in income through tourists spending disposable income at area hotels, restaurants, stores, gas stations, attractions and more. The center should also initially create $700,000 each year in new tax revenues going toward local school districts, governments and other public services.Source: Cedar FairDignitaries tour the construction site of the Cedar Point Sports Center on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.