A major multi-sport and entertainment center may come to Marion in coming months.
Marion Sports Authority announced Friday the group is working to develop a center to be built at the interchange of Ind. 18 and Interstate 69.
The private nonprofit Authority was formed last week. A group of community leaders, including city officials, business people and sports enthusiasts created the group to advance sports in Marion.
Darren Reese, director of development for the city, said the building would be constructed on the northwest corner of Ind. 18 and I-69, behind the Marathon gas station.
He couldn’t comment on the dimensions of the building, but said it would likely be two stories high, with the top being about 60 feet high. It’s being built for specific, as yet unnamed, tenants.
“It’s something that’s going to be a good fit for the first tenants, as well as for our market,” he said. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold said he believes building the facility will motivate others to build on the corridor. He used the words “live, work and play” to describe the area, as he hopes the more than 140 acres will serve as an area for residents to live, work and play.
Though the project is still in the works, the mayor said there aren’t any guarantees. But he said everything is moving in the right direction.
The site is adjacent to the once-planned Veriana project, which failed to develop. That property is now involved in a court dispute between the tech company and the City of Muncie.
Phase one of the sports and entertainment project would focus on infrastructure improvements. Exploratory funds used by the Authority, which have been extended by a local lender, were allocated Friday to begin land acquisition from Marion Land Development.
Seybold said a group approached city officials about building the facility, and the company will use its own funds. Since it’s not a city project, the city won’t be contributing any money to it. He said he didn’t know how much the structure would cost.
“For us as a city, there’s really not a whole lot for us to do at this point,” Seybold said. “We’re going to sit back and let it all run its course.”
He said infrastructure should begin on the project once weather permits, and it could take a few weeks to a couple of months to complete. The timeline for the building, however, is out of city officials’ control.
“We’re not the builders,” he said. “Whatever (time) it takes, it takes. We just want it to happen.”
In a statement issued Friday, Seybold said a sports authority is something officials have talked about for six years.
“I was an Olympian long before I was mayor,” he said in the release. “I have been looking forward to giving more opportunity to kids that were like me to grow in their talents. Far beyond this economic development project, the Sports Authority has every opportunity to raise the bar of all of our community youth programs.”
The group’s mission is to create economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of athletic, entertainment and cultural events.
Reese said the energy from the group members Friday was phenomenal, and he believes the group will raise the bar on youth sports in the community.
He said the community should be proud of the projects that are in the works, as they are a result of growth.
“All these programs we have going right now are things that we deserve,” he said.
Reese said it could be four to five months until additional details about the planned facility are released.
There are plans for the development of an apartment complex near the proposed center, he said.
March 7, a development group from Indianapolis will address the Marion City Council about the development of a residential facility.
Members of the Sports Authority, as well as city officials, say there are several details being withheld until the project has progressed further and private agreements finalized.
Board President Jim Brunner, in the news release, said officials run the risk of jeopardizing the project with a premature announcement. He said details would be made available to the public as the effort progresses.