MACOMB (WGEM) – The results are in from a study conducted by Sports Facilities Advisory. Last fall, Macomb City Council gave an approved agreement for nearly $50,000 with the company to conduct an in-depth study on the feasibility of major sports facility.

The study indicates that a major indoor athletic facility could be sustainable for Macomb.

“When we went into this, we were fully prepared to hear that, ‘No, Macomb can’t support something like this,’” Mayor Michael Inman said.

Inman said the facility would be geared towards traveling sports teams. As a father himself, he recalled traveling to Chicago and even Kansas City to take his children to competitive athletic events.

Inman met a representative from Sports Facilities Advisory in Las Vegas about a year ago at an economic development convention.

He, first and foremost, sees the facility as an economic driver.

“There’s every indication that what comes with this is a greater demand for retail, a greater demand for restaurants and a greater demand for hotel rooms,” Inman said.

According to the study, in the first year of the facility’s existence, it is expected to have an economic impact of $7.4 million, growing to $10.7 million in the second year. Additionally, overnight visitors in year one are projected to spend $138 per day, eventually reaching $146 in the fifth year.

The facility itself would include 16 volleyball courts, eight basketball courts and a bleacher system with 4,000 seats. The study also includes an arcade, golf simulators and a ropes course. There is also mention of a kitchen and café area, team rooms and a Redemption store.

Inman believes a facility of this magnitude could draw in teams and families from several hours away.

“Those funds are leaking out of the community,” Inman added.

The cost and potential location of the facility will be announced during Monday’s city council meeting. Inman indicated that the city doesn’t own the property, so there would likely be some acquisition costs.

Sports Facilities Advisory also gave recommendations on how the sports complex could be paid for. Inman said the city would likely own the facility and a third party would operate it. Inman was adamant that, should the project happen, it would not come at the cost of raised property taxes.

Results were also given for the feasibility of an outdoor complex, but Inman believes it would have been a “heavy lift” to operate both projects.

“This is probably a one and done opportunity, whether we pursue it or not, it’s going to be pursued with some diligence within the next two or three years or the opportunity passes,” Inman said.

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