$65 million sports complex for Lexington County in the works

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A $65 million sports complex could soon be headed to the Midlands.

The Congaree Sports Complex, which has the support of Senator Nikki Setzler, is being planned by the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission.

The project received $3 million from the newly approved state budget, $1 million short of their initial request.

As for the remaining $62 million, Setzler told WIS News 10 it will come from a combination of local, regional and state funds, plus money from the private sector.

“This is the seed to start the whole process, we have been working on it for the last 4-5 years, from concept to now,” said Setzler. “The Lexington County Recreation Commission will be the fiscal agent for the funds we raise, and there will be funds from other entities in the county that will be participating in it as well as the state.”

He said there is no official timeline or renderings as of now, but with the recent allocation from the state budget, he hopes the project will move along quickly.

While Setzler won’t say exactly where this complex will be built, he did tell WIS News 10 it will either be in West Columbia or Cayce. One important aspect about the project that Setzler told WIS News 10 was that the complex will generate an economic boost for the region from sports tourism through hosting weekend tournaments.

“People come in, they stay in hotels, they go to motels, they eat food, they go to retail shops, they go to other facilities within the community and spend their money, it’s a huge economic boost to the Midlands, particularly the Cayce, West Columbia area,” said Seltzer.

The project will be completed in phases. The first phase consists of installing eight large multi-purpose sports fields with synthetic turf and lights for baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse. There will also be two large towers with concessions.

The second phase involves the construction of a mixed-use indoor sports center with ten regulation basketball courts and 20 volleyball courts. It will also include parking, a running track and concessions within the indoor sports center.

According to the application for state funds – the first phase will cost a sum of $25 million, with $2 million of that funding heading towards property and infrastructure. Phase two will cost $40 million.

Setzler, who is finishing his last term in the Senate, said building a complex in the Midlands with access to multiple interstate highways will provide easy access for athletes and their parents from across the Southeast.

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