LAWTON - A plan to bring a new multimillion-dollar indoor sports facility to Lawton was presented to city council during a special meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 7.
LAWTON - A plan to bring a new multimillion-dollar indoor sports facility to Lawton was presented to city council during a special meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 7.
The meeting did not have a quorum, so it was an informational meeting only.
“Are we a stagnant city or are we investing in our future?” asked project presenter Brian Henry.
Henry and colleagues Hossein Moini and Albert Johnson Jr. came up with the idea about six weeks ago and have been researching ways to make the complex a reality.
If approved, the proposed 85,000-square-foot activity center would include up to six 84’ basketball courts, an indoor soccer field as well as a fully functioning kitchen and concession stands.
With estimates ranging from $125-$130 per square- foot, the construction cost of the project could total between $10.6 and $11 million.
According to Henry, that would include completed construction with retractable basketball goals and volleyball nets.
Statistics taken by Cameron University show that in 2017, Lawton alone had 12,550 youths ages 5-14. Comanche County has 16,200 in the same age group. Youth sports registrations through the city were 2,300 last year. Of those, close to 900 were basketball players.
Henry also explained that by having the youth’s games in the same location through out the week, parents could support each of their children if they are scheduled at the same time.
While the location for the new proposed facility has not been determined, many Lawtonians in attendance showed support for the idea, saying an indoor facility would keep youths out of the weather and would mean less cancelations.
“This is a tremendous employment opportunity,” Henry said.
Henry, Moini and Johnson researched and visited similar facilities in north Texas, which also host STEM activities.
Those Texas models employ between 200 and 500 full- and part-time employees. Henry added that high school and college students, as well as teachers and coaches, would benefit from the complex.
By extending the 2015 Sales Tax increase and 2016 Capital Improvements Program, the project could generate the required revenue without creating new taxes.
Although there were not enough council members present to put it to a vote, a supportive Mayor Stan Booker said council will review the issue by the Aug. 27 meeting.
The mayor also said “the timetable is going to be really tight” to have the sports complex question on the Nov. 12 ballot.