SPRINGFIELD – Although Scheels Sports Park has been operational since late 2025, Gov. JB Pritzker, Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher and a host of others celebrated its opening on April 28 with a ribbon cutting.
Pritzker had touted the public-private partnership at 3801 MacArthur Blvd. that was hatched in an effort to draw visitors to the capital city as “an inspiring display.”
“I know this isn’t all about economic growth, but it is an important component of a future for our state that we are going to be a leader in (the youth travel sports) industry,” Pritzker told the crowd.
He added that investments like this one poise the state to be at the forefront of the burgeoning industry of youth sports.
Nationwide, Pritzker said the industry notches at $275 billion and is one that supports more than one million jobs.
“Even before we cut the ribbon here today, Illinois ranks among the top 10 states in the country in this industry,” he said. “But in Illinois, we always aim to be number one. As this market grows, we want to be at the leading edge of it.”
Tthe overall cost is projected to be $65 million. The city of Springfield’s 2023 assistance comes through a hotel-motel tax incentive, with 2% of the 8% citywide hotel-motel tax being allocated for the complex. The city’s development assistance cap is $45 million.
Steve Luker and Dirk McCormick of Legacy Pointe Development are privately financing the sports complex.
The park is expected to attract 250,000 annual visitors, bring an estimated $25 million in annual economic activity, and boost Springfield’s tourism economy.
The hope is to attract visitors to stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants and shop at local stores.
The Springfield Clinic Dome is the world’s largest air-supported sports dome. The park is further outfitted with two full-sized softball fields, six full-sized basketball courts and a section for a hitting area. The basketball courts are convertible to 12 volleyball courts over 190,000-square-footage of dome.
Buscher said the build was among her highest priorities when she was elected.
“The day after I won my election, I called Ryan McCrady (president & CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance) and said, ‘How do we get this thing off the ground?'” she said at the ribbon cutting.
The city is seeking investors to add businesses to the South Central Business District, Buscher added.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Pritzker, Springfield leaders cut the ribbon at Scheels Sports Park
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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