City manager: Glenpool sports complex could be big business

GLENPOOL, Okla. - A major sports complex could be the first of its kind in Oklahoma.

Glenpool city leaders are talking about building the facility.

Glenpool's assistant City Manager David Tillotson said revenue projections show the complex bringing in $40 million a year.

This proposed sports complex would sit on 30 acres at 161st & Elwood. That's bigger than all 24-acres of Yankee Stadium.

Glenpool first grade football coach Chad Smith said this is much needed because there's really only one place to practice. If he wants to take the field somewhere else he has to get creative with a lack of city-owned fields.

Recently the city took away the baseball fields and made them soccer fields.

The proposed complex looks like six baseball fields, a batting cage, sand volleyball court, a multi-purpose arena, and two restaurants.

Tillotson said, "these types of fields are a great way to bring people into town. Glenpool doesn't really have another entertainment type of complex right now, where people can go out and enjoy a night with their family."

He said there's already a hotel looking to go next door.

City officials say they'd pay for the $18 million-dollar complex with $1.2 million left over from Vision 2025 and $6.8 million from Vision2.

That's if Vision2 passes.

That money allows the city to make payments until the complex starts profiting. Which they say would happen in three years.

Smith said, "I'm all for it. I've got a 2-year-old, a 6-year-old, and twin girls that are freshmen. I'll be here for a while and my kids and me will be enjoying it for a long time."

This complex has been done in 11 other cities in the South. Glenpool would split revenue with a company to maintain the complex.

You can give your input during a public meeting on 6 p.m. October 1 in the Glenpool City Hall.