Illinois Just Broke Ground On A Massive New Sports Park With A 190,000-Square-Foot Dome

I grew up in a small town in Northern Illinois where sports and farming were the two main options for recreation. Naturally, this led to a lot of us playing sports. I played softball for 13 years with my local park district and high school team on dusty old diamonds surrounded by cornfields. Those were some of the best times of my life, and though I wasn't an extraordinary player, I loved the game. So when I heard about the new sports complex in Springfield, Illinois — Scheels Sports Complex at Legacy Pointe — I was thrilled to hear the state was creating a brilliant new place for sports to thrive.

The Scheels Sports Complex at Legacy Pointe is a massive new $42 million sports complex in Springfield. It's the latest addition to the state's capital, which is already a thriving hub of history, culture, and great dining.

The complex will have both indoor and outdoor components, including eight sporting fields, a 190-square-foot indoor sports dome, turf, courts, a fitness area, hitting center, and more.

Of the eight fields, five will be for baseball, one is for soccer, and two are for youth sports.

The park is expected to host 60- to 100-team tournaments each weekend year-round, with the ability to change the park's configuration for nearly any sport — including baseball, volleyball, football, rugby, lacrosse, dance, cheer, soccer, softball, and more.

One of the coolest features is the park's area for food trucks, which will offer a slate of local favorites. There will also be concessions, restrooms, a playground, a picnic area, a pavilion, and a walking path.

Planners believe the addition of the sports complex will have a mega impact on the local economy — including $25 million in additional annual spending within the city and a need for 50,000 more hotel rooms in the area, suggesting more jobs and growth as a result.

In September, a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony was held with youth sports players to commemorate the project.

Since then, construction has been underway at the site. The complex is expected to be completed in 2025 and serve as a new point of destination for sports lovers and players of all ages across the state.

Plan to visit the new sports complex in Springfield, Illinois? Check out The Sports Facilities Company's website and Facebook page. If you're a sports player or athletic family, it may also be good to get to know the Springfield area. It's a beer drinker's paradise, is home to a Route 66 car show, has tons of Abraham Lincoln-related history, and is filled with great restaurants and an endless number of attractions and museums. This chic, renovated historic rental home is the perfect home base for your tournament travels.