Macomb testing the waters for a major sports complex

MACOMB (WGEM) – The first step is being taken to see if a major sports complex would be suitable for Western Illinois. On Monday, Macomb City Council approved an agreement in the amount of $47,250 with the Sports Facilities Advisory, a company that conducts in-depth studies on the feasibility of sports facilities.

“We don’t know what ours is going to look like, which is part of the reason we wanted the professionals to come in and tell us what we could foot, what would be a draw, and how we would be able to pull that off,” said Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation (MAEDCO) President and CEO Kim Pierce.

Pierce said the company will determine things like associated costs, projected revenue and also where might be a good location for a facility.

“They’ve done hundreds of these across the U.S., they’re experts in it, they know what they’re looking for they know what they need to identify in a community,” Pierce added.

Pierce said the facility could appear in several different forms, including an indoor complex that could facilitate a variety of athletics.

Mayor Michael Inman said the idea has floated around loosely for several years, but became more real in May. That’s when he and Pierce attended an economic development conference in Las Vegas. There, the two met with a representative from Sports Facilities Advisory.

According to Inman, the representative is a Quad Cities-native and has visited Macomb twice already.

“He’s done a cursory analysis of what the possibilities may be, this is an opportunity to advance those ideas and see if, in fact, something can and should be done,” Inman said.

From this week, the company has 120 days to conduct the pro forma and give a final report to the city.

We’re not going into this with all smiles, we know that there’s a possibility that it just doesn’t foot, and if it doesn’t foot then we understand that and we will have said we’ve given it our shot,” Inman said.

Macomb already has it’s share of athletic facilities, including Veterans Park, among others for baseball and softball alone. City leaders believe a major sports facility would be a destination for youth and teen travel teams. Filling hotels and restaurants with young players and their families.

“All of that money is leaking out of our community,” Inman said.

The City of Macomb, McDonough District Hospital, MAEDCO, the YMCA of McDonough County, the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce and the Macomb Park District are partnering for this venture.

Pierce said the pro forma will also include who would be a good option to manage the facility.

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