Provo celebrates grand opening of Epic Sports Park

Provo City celebrated the grand opening of its Epic Sports Park on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Heralded by the city as “the largest multi-purpose sports facility in Utah,” the park currently features 15 competition-sized fields and several playgrounds. The park will host a total of 21 competition-sized sports fields and 45 pickleball courts once fully complete.

Doug Robins, director of Provo City’s Parks and Recreation, said the park will fill an important need for local sports.

“Currently, over 330 local sports teams are competing for limited time on just 11 available fields … Our neighborhood parks simply can’t accommodate this increasing need,” Robins said. “That’s why this facility is essential.”

The Epic Sports Park will accommodate sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football, rugby, ultimate frisbee and more. Provo City officials said the layout will allow multiple events to occur simultaneously without conflict.

Ashley Cardoza attended the grand opening with her daughter, Sophia, who plays soccer in Provo. She said they were excited about new fields and a more convenient experience.

“The fields are really nice. It looks like it’s easier to find the numbers, they’re pretty clear about which fields they are,” Cardoza said of the park.

Clear signage, as well as convenient parking and roundabouts to assist traffic flow, were a priority for the city as the park was designed, Robins said.

“Many of us have traveled to other sports complexes, and we’ve seen how challenging they can be, especially for families … We wanted to focus on making this facility as user-friendly as possible,” Robins said.

The Epic Sports Park is expected to bring $40 million annually into the regional economy, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi reported on her blog.

“That means more business for our local shops, hotels and restaurants — and more growth for Provo,” Kaufusi wrote.

Three sports tournaments are already booked at the park for fall 2024, Robins said. These tournaments alone are projected to generate $3.1 million in local spending, with other sports events scheduled to begin in April and continue through the summer and fall of 2025, he added.

According to the city, more than 1,600 people notified in advance they would attend the opening, which included a skydiver delivering a soccer ball for a ceremonial first goal, a live DJ and popsicles for attendees.