A local youth sports group is currently building a new multi-field, artificial turf facility with a dome in Hampden. And the first of four fields is expected to be ready this fall.
Non-profit organization River City Athletics originally planned to build the complex in Holden. But after two and a half years, things broke down between the town of Holden and the group.
The 88,000 square foot dome and four turf fields will instead be located at the site of the former Maine Sports Complex facility in Hampden, according to executive director MJ Ball.
Ball said the first outdoor artificial turf field is expected to be completed by the end of the month or early October.
“This project will impact thousands of people,” said Ball, who is also the Hermon High School girls soccer coach. “It will really benefit a healthy lifestyle in the area.”
Ball expects the second field to be done in the spring and the dome will be put up over it next fall. The final two outdoor fields are expected to be done the following spring (2027).
He said the total price for the whole project is $10.5 million.
All the fields will have lights and will be able to be used for a variety of sports including soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball and softball.
The facility inside the dome, in addition to the field, will have rooms for parties, office space, concession stands, rest rooms and a viewing deck “where families can watch their kids participate.”
There will also be a driving range and room for disc golf.
The entire complex, including the fields and the dome, will be on 22 acres located on Coldbrook Road.
Ball said the former dome, which opened in 2002, was 20,000 square feet while the new dome will be 88,000 square feet.
The Maine Sports Complex dome was the product of Englishmen Peter Madigan, Gary Walker and Mark Franchi.
“People need a place that is safe and reliable. Where they can go for a walk or participate in a sport. The youth organizations need quality fields and they will have this at their disposal,” Ball said. “And because we are a non-profit, we won’t be charging outlandish fees.”
Ball said the whole purpose of the facility is for people to use it, not to make a profit.
Ball said he is “very excited’ about the project.
“We’re still looking for naming rights partners and advertisers. This is all private funding and the more money we can raise, the less we will have to borrow,” Ball said.
He also noted that they still own the land in Holden where they had originally intended to build the facility.
“We want to sell the land and we’re looking to make a deal. Whoever buys it will get naming rights at the new facility,” Ball said.
