Lubbock City Council has approved an agreement to reserve 20 acres at Bill McAlister Park for the nonprofit organization Lubbock Game Changers to develop a 140,000-square-foot indoor sports facility.
“It's a public facility, so on city land,” said Rhett Butler, president and founder of Lubbock Game Changers. “Everybody in Lubbock, for either a membership fee or something like that, will have the opportunity to come in and use the facility. If you need to rent the gyms for your teams, if you need to organize a small league yourself, we're going to have those opportunities available to you.”
The estimated $50 million project would be funded through business partnerships, grants, and private donations. The city will partner on the project but will not contribute funding.
Under the agreement, the land will be set aside for two years, giving Lubbock Game Changers time to secure 85% of the total cost.
The organization is encouraging local businesses and donors to consider sponsorships, seat dedications, and naming rights for the facility.
“So we've already started fundraising efforts. We've already started applying for grants and things like this. Now that we have this agreement in place, we're able to move forward, approaching sponsors, naming sponsors,” Butler said. “So the big next step will be finding the big naming sponsor for the building.”
Plans for the facility include 13 volleyball courts, seven full-sized basketball courts, and a championship arena with two-story seating for 1,800 spectators. The arena would feature an ASB LumiFLEX court surface, a programmable LED floor technology.
Temporary, movable versions have been used at NBA All-Star Games and FIBA World Cup events. According to the organization, it would be the first permanent floor of its kind in the United States.
In addition to hosting tournaments, the venue would offer youth development programs, adult leagues, and other events. Amenities would include a parent lounge, video game room, sports medicine clinic, concessions, and a dining area.
“We're trying to turn Lubbock into a sports destination,” Butler said. “So we want to bring up the facilities for our kids and show the world how much we love our kids, but we want to bring in people and give them a sports experience that they're not going to get anywhere else. And when you see the design of this building, you're going to see what we’re talking about.”
Lubbock Game Changers has partnered with Jacob and Martin Engineers & Architects for the design and Collier Construction for the build.
