The Friends of the Indoor Sports Complex (FISC) have secured $3.75 million in major private-sector donations for the proposed Indoor Athletic and Conference Center at Uptown Janesville.
Woodman’s Food Markets has agreed to donate $2 million for the naming rights to the proposed facility. “We are excited to participate in this community transforming project,” said Woodman’s President, Clint Woodman. “The opportunity to support the youth in our community while driving sports tourism and convention business to the area is great for the whole city, and we’re very happy to be involved with the project.”
Mercyhealth has agreed to donate $1.25 million for the naming rights to the primary rink in the facility. Mercyhealth will be the exclusive provider of medical needs within the facility. “This is a legacy project for Janesville, and we are pleased to participate in a project that promotes health and wellness while promoting our community,” said Mercyhealth President and CEO Javon Bea.
The Kennedy Family Foundation will donate $500,000 to sponsor the flex space in the facility. The flex space will be the largest professional meeting space in Janesville, attracting larger conventions and trade shows mid-week and providing turf and hardcourt space on the weekends for sports including volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, dance and more. “We think this project will have a positive impact on the youth in Janesville and help our local economy,” said Delores Kennedy, Kennedy Family Foundation Board Member.
The Indoor Athletic & Conference Center plans include a main ice rink seating approximately 1,600 attendees, a secondary seasonal rink seating 250, and a 20,000 square foot flex space that can support indoor turf and hardcourt, and host tradeshows, conventions and expos. The need for an indoor athletic & conference facility was determined in January of 2019 through an intensive feasibility study by Convention Sports & Leisure (CSL). The study found that market demand currently exists to support a facility of this design. As part of the study, a survey of more than 1,400 community members showed that the community supports and plans to use the facility.
As one resident in the survey said, “Build it and they will come…tournaments are huge revenue builders for the community.” The facility will create more than $10 million in total spending, $4 million in increased earnings, more than 27,000 additional hotel room nights and more than 100 jobs by year 5, according to a business plan study by Johnson Consulting. By year 10 the facility will host more than 60 sports tournaments a year.
FISC co-chairperson Christine Rebout, Executive Director of the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said today’s announcement is the first of what her group hopes will be several announcements as the private sector seeks to raise at least $7 million toward the indoor sports complex. “This is step one. We have secured all but one of the major donors needed to move this exciting project forward and will begin working to secure other major donors over the next two months,” said Rebout.
FISC is currently finalizing a naming rights sponsor for Rink B, which will serve as a hockey rink in the winter months and convert to turf or hardcourt in the spring, summer, and early fall. FISC has also secured donors at lower levels which will be announced in late October.
Next steps include an update from members of the FISC to Janesville City Council at the council’s first meeting in November and beginning more specific designs of the facility.