JONESBORO, Ark. – The Steering Committee for the Jonesboro Sportsplex was presented with a cost summary for the 200,000-square-foot facility on Tuesday morning, January 9th. Erik Kocher with Hastings-Chivetta Architects made the presentation to the Steering Committee. Hastings-Chivetta is partnering with Crafton Tull on the Sports Complex project.
The summary for the building and equipment is $77.2 million. This includes the main structure with 12 basketball courts (24 volleyball and 36 pickleball) and the natatorium. The natatorium plan has a 50-meter pool, a competition diving pool, and a warm-up pool. The natatorium features seating for 1,245 spectators.
“We are excited to be at this point in the process of bringing a first-class indoor sports complex to Jonesboro,” said Kevin Hodges, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, “We are eager to take a look at these numbers and evaluate them.”
That cost does not reflect a secondary paved parking lot, an outdoor splash pad, and an indoor walking track. Kocher’s presentation showed that adding the splash pad would cost $2.5 million. The indoor walking track would cost $900,000. A secondary parking lot would cost $325,000. Those items, listed separately, do not indicate their exclusion in the final plans.
“The summary is in line with building a facility of this quality and scope,” said Jerry Morgan, Chairman of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission, “While we were expecting an increase in costs due to the inflation over the past two years, we were unsure of the final cost summary. This summary shows what it takes to build a first-class facility that we can be proud of.”
The A&P Commission will work closely with the Jonesboro Facilities Board and the bonding agent and seek advice from the city finance department before beginning the financing stage. The process will determine if the size and scope are feasible based on the current economic conditions and revenue projections.
“It’s important that we get this right. That’s why we are taking our time to seek advice from the city and the financial counselors before we end at a final price and begin construction,” said Craig Rickert, Executive Director of the Jonesboro A&P Commission.
“We will expedite the process of evaluating the revenues and expenses to see if we can continue under the current size and scope of the project. We do have the option of a size reduction or a phased-in construction approach. But we want to ensure we get the return on investment for the city and stakeholders,” Morgan said.
Plans call for building the complex on an approximately 36-acre site on Race Street. The Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission purchased the property in January 2023.
About the Jonesboro A&P Commission: the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission promotes tourism in the city to produce a positive economic impact through the funding, promotion and advertising of events held in the city.
Press Release/Photos Courtesy Jonesboro A&P Commission
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This will be wonderful! Very exciting……
“We will expedite the process of evaluating the revenues and expenses to see if we can continue under the current size and scope of the project. We do have the option of a size reduction or a phased-in construction approach. But we want to ensure we get the return on investment for the city and stakeholders, (who is defined as the stakeholders in this presentation.)”
Forget the12 basketball courts (24 volleyball and 36 pickleball), build only the aquatic center that’s the only thing the residents of Jonesboro (stake holders) have talked about.
Pickleball, but no tennis courts????
Nobody likes tennis loser