Plans expand: WYO Complex looking to build new $31M indoor sports facility in Casper

The proposed new indoor sports facility could host sports like wrestling, basketball, soccer and more. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

CASPER, Wyo. — On Tuesday, people with the nonprofit organization WYO Complex updated the City Council on plans to construct a new indoor sports facility near the Ford Wyoming Center.

While initially envisioned as a two-court facility, Jessica Hastings with WYO Complex said the project scope has grown to plans for a 131,000-square-foot facility with an estimated project cost of $31 million. Attorney Tassma Powers told the City Council that the majority of funding would come from private donations and that the city would not be asked to provide anything except the land near the Ford Wyoming Center for the build.

Tyler Holthouse, a member of the McMurry Foundation’s Board of Directors, said the foundation is “very interested in supporting this in a major way” if the City Council approves a lease agreement with WYO Complex that would allow construction to happen.

The City Council indicated Tuesday that it supports the project. City staff and WYO Complex will work out some details regarding the lease agreement and bring it to the City Council in coming weeks for formal consideration.

WYO Complex has contracted Stateline No. 7 Architects for design of the project and has been working with Sports Facilities Companies on it. The reason the scope has expanded is the team recognized the region lacks a complex of the size being envisioned and building one in Casper could make it more of a destination for regional sports tournaments.

The facility would feature one wing with six courts for sports like volleyball and another wing covered with turf. That wing could be overlaid to add four more basketball courts. The project would create synergy with the Ford Wyoming Center, which also has court space available, Hastings said.

The project could have a “halo effect” and lead to more development in the area, Hastings added.

Brad Murphy, general manager of the Ford Wyoming Center, said OVG, the company the city contracts to manage the Ford Wyoming Center, supports the project and has interest in helping operate the new facility. WYO Complex plans to retain ownership of the facility but seek a third party to manage it.

Murphy said the synergy created between the Ford Wyoming Center and the new facility might reduce the subsidy the city pays to operate the Ford Wyoming Center. It could offer the possibility to attract bigger tournaments, particularly wrestling tournaments, Murphy said.

Outside of the lease agreement, the one other area WYO Complex is asking the city to cooperate on is ensuring adequate parking for the new complex.

The City Council’s full discussion can be reviewed in the video of Tuesday’s work session:

The draft lease agreement can be reviewed below: