By Ali Yenchick
The SF Network is gearing up for another pivotal year in 2026, adding a slate of new venues to our portfolio that will break us through the three-figure mark.
While some are breaking ground, others are cutting the ribbon on their grand openings across the country. These projects aren’t just new pins on our map—they’re engines of economic impact, community pride, and high-caliber play, each one expanding what it means to “improve communities through sport.”
2026 Groundbreakings: Big Ideas Hitting the Dirt
Odessa Multi Sports Complex – Odessa, TX
Odessa is preparing to transform its sports landscape with the Odessa Multi Sports Complex, a new tournament-focused venue serving West Texas athletes and traveling teams alike. The complex is envisioned with clusters of baseball and softball diamonds, multipurpose long fields, and the supporting infrastructure—concessions, restrooms, shaded seating, and pedestrian-friendly circulation—that makes tournament weekends both efficient and enjoyable. With groundbreaking expected in 2026, the project will create a regional home base for leagues, weekend events, and signature tournaments that keep hotel rooms and restaurants buzzing throughout the year.
Gadsden Athletic Center – Gadsden, AL
In Gadsden, Alabama, shovels are already in the ground on the Gadsden Athletic Center, a next-generation indoor sports and wellness hub set to replace the aging West Meighan Sports Complex. Designed as both a local recreation anchor and a regional tournament draw, the Center will feature a bank of hardwood basketball and volleyball courts, a modern fitness center, indoor aquatics, and flexible spaces for sports performance, leased medical partners, and family entertainment. As construction continues through 2026, the Gadsden Athletic Center is poised to spark significant job creation and new visitor spending while giving residents a year-round home base for leagues, training, and community events that feel every bit as big as the box scores they generate.
2026 Grand Openings: Doors (and Gates) Swinging Wide
East Texas A&M University Agricultural Multipurpose Education and Training Center – Commerce, TX – Late February 2026
In Commerce, Texas, the new East Texas A&M University Ag Center will open its doors in 2026, with grand opening celebrations beginning around February 20. Operated by The Sports Facilities Companies, the on-campus arena is being designed as a flexible home for NCAA basketball and volleyball, commencements, concerts, and university-wide gatherings, giving Texas A&M–Commerce a modern showpiece for both athletics and events. With a contemporary seating bowl, premium and hospitality spaces, and back-of-house areas purpose-built for collegiate operations, the new venue will strengthen the university’s profile while creating new opportunities for regional events in East Texas.
Sprowls Horizon Sports Park Presented by FloridaCentral Credit Union – Pinellas Park, FL – February 28, 2026
Opening in Pinellas Park, Florida, Sprowls Horizon Sports Park is a homerun for youth baseball and softball, featuring a lineup of Major League Spring Training replica fields that let young athletes play in environments modeled after the pros. The park’s grand opening festivities are slated for February 28, 2026, with full Spring 2026 operations bringing in a first year fully booked with tournaments, showcases, and community events that energize the Tampa Bay region’s already-strong sports scene. With professional-caliber playing surfaces, fan-friendly amenities, and a design focused on memorable tournament experiences, Sprowls will quickly become a go-to stop on the national baseball and softball circuit.
Paducah Sports Park by CFSB – Paducah, KY – Summer 2026
Western Kentucky’s tournament footprint expands in March 2026 with the grand opening of Paducah Sports Park by CFSB, a sprawling diamond and long-field destination just off I-24. The complex is programmed with a deep inventory of baseball and softball diamonds—combining youth fields and championship-caliber stadium fields—alongside approximately 10 multipurpose long fields for soccer, football, and other field sports. Layer in walking trails, open green spaces, and family-friendly amenities, and Paducah Sports Park is positioned to host everything from high-impact tournament weekends to local league nights that keep the lights on and the community active all year long.
Emerald Acres Sports Connection – Mattoon, IL – Outdoor Portion: March 2026
In Mattoon, March 2026 marks the grand opening of the outdoor sports campus at Emerald Acres Sports Connection, bringing the venue’s blend of indoor and outdoor play fully to life. The outdoor phase introduces a network of synthetic-turf multipurpose fields, baseball and softball diamonds, event lawn space, and a scenic lakefront environment that connects seamlessly with the indoor fieldhouse and the surrounding walkable retail and dining district. Together, the indoor and outdoor assets give event owners a flexible, all-weather platform to stage tournaments, festivals, and community events, while giving local families a “home base” for recreation, training, and weekend fun.
Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe – Springfield, IL – Outdoor Fields: May 2026
Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe in Springfield, Illinois, will celebrate the grand opening of its remaining outdoor fields in May 2026, completing a destination that pairs eight high-quality outdoor fields with a 170,000-square-foot indoor sports dome featuring turf and hard courts. The complex is designed for year-round play, enabling large-scale tournaments, leagues, and events across soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and indoor court sports, all anchored by a climate-controlled dome that keeps the action going regardless of weather. As the park’s full field inventory comes online, Scheels Sports Park will give event owners a flexible, “all-in-one” site that can handle multi-division events and long tournament weekends with ease.
Artesia Recreation Center – Artesia, NM – May 2026
In southeast New Mexico, May 2026 brings the long-awaited opening of the Artesia Recreation Center, a two-story community hub rising next door to the Artesia Aquatic Center. The new venue combines a three-court gymnasium, upstairs running track, fitness spaces, multipurpose rooms, and a dedicated kids’ area with outdoor amenities like playgrounds and hard courts—creating a true “all-in-one” campus for everyday recreation, leagues, camps, and special events. Woven together with the existing aquatic center, the Artesia Recreation Center will give local families more reasons to stay, play, and connect close to home, while opening the door for regional programs and events that showcase Artesia’s growing destination story.
Destination KP – Kings Park, NY – Spring/Summer 2026
On Long Island, Destination KP in Kings Park steps onto the stage in 2026 with an April 13 grand opening that marks its official arrival as a new outdoor sports destination within the SF Network. Envisioned as a multi-purpose sports campus, Destination KP brings upgraded fields, training spaces, and spectator amenities to a market hungry for tournament-quality play close to home, while offering event owners an accessible location within reach of the greater New York metro area. As it ramps up operations, Destination KP will play a dual role—supporting weekend tournaments that drive hotel stays and restaurant traffic, and giving local families an elevated home field for their everyday sports experiences.
Eagleton Ballpark & Ballfields – Blount County, TN – Spring 2026 Celebration
Blount County’s new diamond destination, Eagleton Ballpark & Ballfields, enters its first full spring tournament season in 2026, turning a newly developed complex into a true regional hub for baseball and softball. The venue is master-planned as a multi-field campus designed to support youth leagues, travel ball, and signature events, all while creating new opportunities for visiting teams to discover Blount County’s blend of mountain scenery and small-town hospitality. With its March 2026 event slate, Eagleton Ballpark is poised to become a fixture on the Southeast travel ball calendar and a new point of pride for the community it serves.
Shepherdsville Aquatics and Pickleball Complex – Shepherdsville, KY – Memorial Day Weekend 2026
The Shepherdsville Aquatics and Pickleball Complex will officially dive into service in late Spring 2026, bringing a highly programmed blend of water and court experiences to Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The complex is planned with indoor aquatics for year-round swim lessons, fitness, and lap swimming; outdoor water attractions like a leisure pool, slides, and splash play; and a robust pickleball offering that includes both indoor and outdoor courts for leagues, tournaments, and casual play. As it opens, the venue will provide a new recreation “third place” for local families while also positioning Shepherdsville as a compelling stop for regional aquatics and pickleball events.
A Stronger, Deeper, and More Connected SF Network
These 2026 groundbreakings and grand openings represent communities choosing to invest in health, connection, and shared experiences through sport. Each project brings its own personality and purpose to the SF Network, while sharing a common commitment to high-quality facilities, thoughtful programming, and measurable impact.
As shovels hit the ground and ribbons are cut throughout 2026, we’re thrilled to welcome these venues into the Network, to stand alongside our partners at every step of their journeys, and to help ensure that every field, court, ice sheet, and pool becomes exactly what it’s meant to be: a place where communities come together and thrive.
