Developers discuss vision for sports dome
GLUCKSTADT — Developers will have to submit a rezoning application for a $100 million sports facility off of Highway 51 here.
828 Sports Ventures and Turn Key Properties have agreed on a 43-acre site for the future home of the proposed travel sports destination.
The project announced last week is called the Gluckstadt MegaDome Sports Complex.
Developers presented a plan to the city last Thursday evening.
Mayor Walter C. Morrison said the response he got was “very positive.” He said the next move will be for developers to petition to rezone the property.
‘I hope it comes to fruition,” Morrison said. “It will be a great addition to the city.”
He went on to say he is “encouraged and hopeful” after last week’s presentation. Morrison said he does not know when the developers will seek the rezoning petition.
Tim Gelt, a spokesman for the project said they are currently working with local, state, and regional officials to continue to push the project forward.
“At the moment,” Gelt said, “We are currently accomplishing standard pre-construction action items for this project. We are working diligently with all necessary infrastructure affiliates to prepare our land site for development and we look forward to building this unique destination to serve this community, the state of Mississippi as well as the southern region of the United States.”
Developers showed those in attendance a rendering and maps of the campus. Maps showed it will go up at the southwest corner of Highway 51 and Weisenberger Road.
The land belongs to Stuart and Katie Warren who are Gluckstadt residents and owners of Turn Key Properties in Madison.
Morrison said the development has not asked for any public funds at this point and said that is something he would likely voice his opposition to.
“I would not recommend the city make a financial commitment to this project at this time,” Morrison said, noting that he has already told the developers that and said they said, “We don’t need your money.”
Developers say the spot is the I-55 and I-20 corridor. Their facility will benefit from being a six-hour drive time from all the major Southern markets of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas.
The facility will feature “a multitude” of amenities, including indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, as well as fields for football, baseball, and softball. Developers say swimming pools, meeting space, an on-site hotel, unique Mississippi-curated restaurants, and other amenities will be offered.
Developers project the facility will create upwards of $50 million in annual economic impact for the Gluckstadt community, as well as the Central Mississippi region as a whole.
For example, a representative of the development noted that they did not “come in with a hotel in our pocket” but have talked to multiple hotel developers since last week’s announcement.