Hotels in Kalamazoo County voted 82% in favor of establishing a funding mechanism that will help pay for the development of a new $40M indoor sports facility. The initial design for the facility features space for 8 basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts, as well as an indoor turf field. It will serve the local community during the week where local youth in particular will benefit and it will host regional tournaments on weekends.
“Sports tourism continues to be a major driver of economic impact for our community,” said Brian Persky, Director of Business Development of Discover Kalamazoo. “In 2024 alone, more than 50 sporting events brought an estimated $30.3 million in direct visitor spending to Kalamazoo, thanks in large part to the efforts of our sports partners in the community. With the addition of this new facility, we look forward to building on that success, attracting even more events, visitors, and opportunities that will strengthen our local economy and enhance the vibrant sports culture we’ve worked hard to grow.”
Now that hotels have approved the creation of the Kalamazoo County Event Center Assessment District (KCECAD), starting June 1st, hotels with 35 rooms or more will collect a 4% assessment on visitor stays of less than 30 days. These funds will go towards the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of the new facility so there will be no new taxes or fees for residents of Kalamazoo County with this project.
The assessment revenue may only be used to fund the development of the new sports facility and other similar tourism-driving facilities. The indoor sports facility will be the first project to benefit from this new assessment and there could be more to come as sports tourism continues to drive economic growth for the greater Kalamazoo area.
“Supporting this vote is an easy decision,” said Elena Kitterman, Director of Sales of Homewood Suites by Hilton & Courtyard by Marriott Kalamazoo-Portage. “It’s a smart investment in the success of our area hotels and the future of Kalamazoo. With the potential to generate over 36,000 additional room nights annually, we’re not just focused on today; we’re helping position our community for increased revenue, stronger occupancy, and lasting economic impact as a premier destination for sports and events.”
Discover Kalamazoo will now request that the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners create an ad hoc committee to review potential sites and make a recommendation on the location of the facility. Once the recommended location is established, an authority may be formed between the municipality of that location and the County pursuant to the KCECAD’s enabling ordinance. The authority will then finalize the location of the site, pursue bonding options backed by the KCECAD assessment revenue to fund the project, and explore site design, management, and daily operations of the facility.
“I really want to thank the Kalamazoo County Administration and in particular the County Clerk's office for administering this vote with the upmost integrity and professionalism and making it easy for the hotels to participate,” said Jane Ghosh, President and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo. “This project will bring hundreds of thousands of new visitors to our community each year, and in turn sustain not just our hotels but also the amenities that residents enjoy like restaurants, attractions, and performing arts.”
