St. George sports center plan details 458 parking spots and 2027 start

Residents of St. George will soon have a clearer picture of what a new civic center looks like, as the city Zoning Commission votes Monday on a preliminary site plan. The proposal outlines a two-story building intended for sports tournaments and school graduations, serving the wider region. Approval of this plan represents the first concrete step toward construction, though it does not immediately trigger bidding or groundbreaking.

The design specifies a 173,500-square-foot structure featuring a second-floor mezzanine and 24 indoor courts. The applicant states the facility will handle a maximum of 1,440 visitors per hour. To accommodate this traffic, the plan includes 458 parking spaces and two separate access drives onto Antioch Road. The site is located off Airline Highway and Antioch Road. The document includes exterior mock-ups and a general construction timeline.

According to the site plan, construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion projected by the end of 2028. The development will proceed in a single phase. While the plan is preliminary, it provides the physical framework for a project that city leaders describe as a multimillion-dollar investment. The city confirmed Friday that a final development cost estimate is not yet available.

Cost projections rely on data from Victus Advisors, a Utah-based firm hired to conduct a feasibility study. The report identifies the West Monroe Sports and Events facility in Louisiana as the most comparable project. That 112,000-square-foot facility, which includes eight basketball courts, cost approximately $22 million to build. The study notes that comparable complexes ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 square feet typically cost between $20 million and $50 million, with an average of about $33 million.

Mayor Dustin Yates addressed the funding question in October, stating that while official estimates are pending, the city expects costs to align with similar examples. To support the project, the City Council recently approved a new Economic Development District covering about 55 acres across seven tracts. This district allows for specific sales and hotel occupancy taxes to be levied, with revenue reinvested in local projects.

The city stated Friday that revenue from the Economic Development District is expected to be a major component of the project's funding. Yates expects these new taxes to begin in 2027. He also indicated that several new businesses could begin breaking ground within the district by the end of next year, potentially generating additional economic activity alongside the sports center.