A rendering of Fort Wayne’s planned North River sports complex, the first in a series of developments on the 29-acre property.

News Release

FORT WAYNE — Fort Wayne officials announced plans Friday, Feb. 14, to build a $50-60 million sports complex to the city’s downtown riverfront.

The 160,000 square-foot center was first announced by Mayor Sharon Tucker and the city of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Division, as the first in a 29-acre North River development bordering Fourth, Clinton and Harrison streets. The complex would house activities such as soccer, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and baseball.

Such a complex would be a “state-of-the-art sports environment for youth,” the city wrote in a news release, allowing the city to compete with similar centers in Grand Rapids, and Indianapolis. The complex is projected to host 27 tournaments a year at least, while also being available for community events.

According to the release, the fieldhouse is expected to bring around $36 million in economic activity, support nearly 900 jobs and about $12.9 million in labor income. Roughly $733,000 in tax revenue would also be generated annually.

Cost estimates for the facility are expected to be made over the next year. The project would be overseen and managed by the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission.

Also announced was a Request for Qualifications for a master developer interested in constructing housing, a hotel, restaurant and retail spaces around the Fieldhouse for future phases of development. More information is available at the City of Fort Wayne’s website.