Plan to eliminate indoor facilities at $65 million sports center stuns Rochester voters
It was the crown jewel of city officials’ pitch to convince Rochester voters to extend the local sales tax for 25 years in 2023. A $65 million regional sports and recreation complex that offered something for everyone, from sparkling indoor sports courts to outdoor playing fields and lots in between. The buzz helped the referendum pass easily, a $205 million total package that included funding for streets and environmental projects. But as the Star Tribune points out, it may have been too good to be true.
Fifteen months after winning voter support, city staff has now revised the cost of building out the entire vision for the complex to be in the ballpark of $120 million, nearly double what had been initially projected.
The updated projections have rankled voters and put the city on the defense over how they could have gotten it so wrong.
“We created some expectations with the community based on the ISG estimates going into the vote,” said Deputy Administrator Aaron Parrish, referring to the consulting firm that led the design. “However, what it’s going to take to accomplish the entire vision for the project is materially different than the estimates we were provided, and that’s really disappointing.”
Turns out, the project as envisioned could cost nearly twice as much as the $65 million voters approved. As a result, the city plans to focus on building the outdoor fields and structures for now, eschewing the popular indoor facilities and amenities that no doubt raised expectations for some voters.
City officials say the early focus on outdoor facilities will give taxpayers the best bang for the buck. But for many voters who backed the original plans, the shifting priorities have left them feeling disillusioned.
“I personally feel we’ve been kind of hoodwinked,” said Neil Cassidy, a local soccer coach who participated in community engagement efforts before the referendum. “It just seems like the main point is what will get tournaments here as opposed to what will get the most community use.”
Another key reason for starting with the ball fields also comes down to money. It turns out the sports complex will cost up to $1 million annually to staff. The hope is that revenue from out-of-town teams and tournaments will help cover operating costs.
State Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester, said the city’s best move would be to pause plans and let the community decide what the priorities should be for the complex. Hicks, a mother of six, called the city’s proposal to exclude indoor play area a “missed opportunity.”
“Before they asked the taxpayers to vote on it, they went to the community and asked what they wanted,” Hicks said in an interview. “They incorporated what the community wanted into the ask for tax revenue. And then when they didn’t have enough money, they went back to what they wanted and left out all of the community feedback. It just boggles my mind.”
But that’s the plan, at least for now. The city has identified a site for the facility and plans to move forward on the outdoor playing fields in time to open for business in 2027.