River City Athletics has added a new sponsor to the Quirk Sportsplex project, which will consist of three lighted outdoor artificial turf multi-sport fields and a domed facility containing another field.
Quirk Auto Group is the primary sponsor. Acadia Federal Credit Union has partnered with River City Athletics and its naming rights will be displayed as the center logo on the Premier Field, which will be the first field completed as part of a multi-phase, $10.5 million project.
M.J. Ball, the executive director of River City Athletics, said Acadia Federal Credit Union’s support of the Premier League center logo “demonstrates a dedication to youth sports and community wellness” that aligns perfectly with his group’s mission.
“They’re trying to increase their brand recognition in this area and this is a perfect opportunity to do that,” Ball said.
Joey Cannan, president and CEO of AFCU, said Acadia’s mission has “always been to enrich lives and strengthen the communities we serve.
“Youth sports play a vital role in that work,” Cannan said.
The first field was expected to be ready this past fall but Ball said they ran out of time to finish it. The Premier Field is part of a first phase, which will also include the construction of bleachers, bathrooms, concession stands and a scoreboard. A softball field will be part of the Premier field.
The second phase will be the domed facility which will include bathrooms, party rooms, office space, an observation deck, concession stands and several scoreboards. There will be a two-lane walking track around the field, and it will host the Maine Soccer Hall of Fame as soon as next winter.
Construction on the final two fields is expected to begin in the spring of 2027, according to Ball. All of the fields can be used for several sports including soccer, football, lacrosse and field hockey, softball, baseball, golf and disc golf. Several teams will be able to use them at the same time.
The entire complex, consisting of 88,000 square feet located on the Coldbrook Road in Hampden, will also include an outdoor walking trail and playground. It is on the site which used to be the home of the Maine Sports Complex dome, which opened in 2002 but closed several years later.
He said completion of the phases could be sooner than anticipated depending on funding and naming rights.
Ball and River City Athletics, a non-profit organization, originally bought land in Holden and planned to build the complex there. However, that fell through two and a half years later.
Ball pointed out that they sold that land in Holden for $380,000 two weeks ago and will be putting that money into the new facility.
“Now that people see the actual construction, we’re getting interest from other groups we don’t even know about,” Ball said.
Anyone interested in donating to the project can contact Ball at any time at 991-8940. Those who would like to learn more about the project or River City Athletics can do so by checking out the rivercitymaine.com website.
