Kearney voters to weigh in on $34 million indoor sports complex funded in part by turnback tax revenue | Nebraska News
The Legislature approved the sales tax turnback for sports complexes like the one proposed in Kearney earlier this year.
If voters OK extending the restaurant tax, the sports complex will be built on 15 acres of land at Talmadge Street and 10th Avenue donated by businessman Paul Younes. His Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open Dec. 15, near where several other hotels operate.
In addition to the state sales tax turnback and restaurant tax extension, there are a number of other sources of money to build the sports complex.
The city has dedicated $2.6 million in coronavirus stimulus funds to install water and sewer to the complex along with a new paved Talmadge Street to access the sports complex from Yanney Avenue.
About $300,000 annually in lodging and occupation taxes will be available from the Kearney Visitors Bureau to help with operating expenses at the complex.
The complex will have a hard court/gym that accommodates eight basketball courts that can convert to 12 volleyball courts; turf multipurpose field (one full-size soccer field that can convert to three smaller fields); three-lane running/walking track with extra sprint lane, four pickleball courts; offices, concessions, storage, restrooms, elevator and stairs, permanent seating for 3,100 spectators plus portable seating for 300 spectators, and other amenities. The public will be able to drop in for workouts, too.