Report: $60 million indoor sports facility would benefit local businesses

A $60 million dollar multi-sport facility in Kalispell would promote off-season tourism and spending in the area, according to a report commissioned by Discover Kalispell.

In addition to serving local youth and adult athletes, the visitors bureau asked its consultants to explore the viability of establishing a center that would attract regional teams for large tournaments. The bureau views such traffic as a potential boon for local businesses, and Discover Kalispell Executive Director Diane Medler thinks the report’s stats back that up.

“If this facility was built it would spur economic development in the area and help support existing hotels and restaurants and retail,” Medler said.

The ideal facility would include four basketball courts, two ice rinks, 6,000 square feet of turf with three batting cages, 2,000 square feet of leasable space, a kitchen and dining area, a physical therapy room, locker rooms and office space.

Sports Facility Advisory, a Florida-based consulting firm, looked at demographic and sporting data as part of their process and found that basketball, volleyball, ice skating, baseball and softball are amongst popular sports in the area that could make use of an indoor sports facility.

Although there was interest in including an Olympic-size swimming pool for competitions, the additional expense of adding one didn’t fit with the “highest and best use,” said Medler.

In 2021, nearly 175 million people traveled to a sports tournament or event and there was approximately $39.7 billion spent on travel for such events nationwide, according to the report.

Families currently spend approximately $883 per weekend of travel for youth and amateur sports tournaments and events across the United States, the report notes.

The firm believes that a tournament complex in Kalispell could expect to host between 15 to 20 tournaments annually which could result in the potential for between 6,300 and 14,700 room nights being booked on an annual basis in the Flathead Valley.

The report has been shared with developers who might be interested in such a project, although such discussions are in preliminary stages, according to Medler.

The report says such an undertaking would require at least 12 acres of land.

Locations for the potential project have not yet been determined, but because one of the project’s primary goals would be to promote economic development and spending, Medler thinks a plot near hotels and restaurants would be ideal.

The report and a decision to engage the firm for a financing study to look at development and facilities operations will be discussed at the Discover Kalispell board’s upcoming meetings.

“It’s a concept that residents will be excited about, hopefully, it’s something that we can continue moving forward and make it happen,” said Medler.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com