[DetroitMan]

Hotels may foot bill for new $40M youth sports complex in Kalamazoo County

Hotel officials across Kalamazoo County are expected to vote in the coming months on whether to add a 4% incremental lodging assessment that would pay for a new $40 million youth sports complex.

The facility, in planning stages since 2022, is being championed by Discover Kalamazoo. It’s separate from the $300 million arena being built in downtown Kalamazoo.

The location for the youth sports complex hasn’t been finalized. More than 30 sites have been studied and three undisclosed locations are finalists, said Jane Ghosh, Discover Kalamazoo president and CEO. The facility’s aim is to fill a gap for youth basketball and volleyball, while also bringing sports tourism to the county. Discover Kalamazoo routinely hosts youth sporting events, bringing in millions of dollars in economic impact each year. Ghosh discussed the proposed funding mechanism to build the 120,000- to 150,000-square-foot facility with the county commission on Tuesday, March 4.

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo...oo-county.html