City of Midwest City

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of the project is the construction of Phase II of the Midwest City Multi-purpose Outdoor Athletic Facility, located at 9300 S.E. 29th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Phase I of the facility is due to be completed in February of 2022, funded by a General Obligation (GO) Revenue Bond approved by the citizens of Midwest City in 2018. The full project was underfunded and escalating prices required phasing of the project. Phase II will complete the project, which will consist of a total of (6) multipurpose playing fields, capable of hosting a wide variety of youth and adult sports to include large, regional tournaments. The fields will accommodate baseball, softball, football, lacrosse and soccer with synthetic playing surfaces and field lighting. A Preliminary Engineering Report on Phase II is attached along with current site photos. By investing in a facility that draws upon the rapidly growing sports tourism industry, the economic resiliency of the community will be strengthened. Expanding the reach and appeal of regional visitors to Midwest City and the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area will help the local hospitality industry (hotel, restaurants, retail and entertainment) recover from the negative impact of the Covid pandemic.

EVIDENCE

By investing in a facility that draws upon the rapidly growing sports tourism industry, the City of Midwest City is strengthening the economic resiliency of the community be expanding its reach and appeal of regional visitors to the city and the greater Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The resulting effect of attracting sports enthusiasts and spectators to the outdoor athletic facility will be benefit to the local hospitality industry to include hotels, restaurants, retail and entertainment venues. Encouraging another means of tax revenue diversifies the area's economic base and assists in the hospitality industry's recovery from the devastating downturn in business during the pandemic.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Everyone has been impacted by the pandemic and as a by-product has generated a collective interest in outdoor venues of all types for adults, youth and families to interact safely. Youth in particular have been adversely affected by the life disruptions experienced over the past 2 years. The facility will also be a local community asset for league sports during the week. Midwest City has a diverse population of 58,409 (63% White, 24.1% Black, 4.1% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 1.3% Other and 5.7% Two or more races). As a city-operated facility, league play will primarily be marketed to the local community. However, this state of the art facility will draw competitive youth and adult teams known to travel significant distances on the weekends to play in larger, regional tournaments, resulting in additional hospitality services needed to accommodate them. The economic boost will be felt metro-wide, as other sports facilities (local leagues, colleges, USA Softball) partner in order to expand their programming to include this state of the art facility.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Project performance will be measured through the increase in tax revenue received by the hospitality industry in Midwest City and the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area, the development of compatible business in the area and participant data.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding