Greer selects site for planned $60 million sports and events center

GREER, S.C. (WSPA) – New details were announced Thursday about a planned $60 million sports and events center in Greer.

The City of Greer said the new facility will be built along South Highway 14 and South Buncombe Road.

“Our previous facility was completely insufficient to meet the needs for our citizens and the recreation needs, indoors,” said Mark Hopper, Greer city council member. “So, we’ve been talking about this conceptually for quite some time. Residents from 8 to 88 are going to be able to use this facility for both athletic program and non-athletic programing.”

The sports and events center will be built on three parcels of land which were recently purchased by the city.

“It’s really the anchor to some of the other projects we’re doing and it’s going to serve not only our citizens but will serve as a sports destination to tourists as well,” said Rick Danner, Greer’s Mayor.

The site was chosen due to its proximity to Interstate 85, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and the main roads of Greer, the city said.

Included in the facility will be basketball and volleyball courts, community rooms, an esports area and batting cages.

“The primary goal of the new sports and events center will be to provide for our own growing recreational and athletic programming,” said Andy Merriman, city administrator. “We intend to complement our use by building a state-of-the-art facility that will provide a venue to host regional and national events, and in turn boost Greer’s economic growth through sports tourism dollars.”

The development is part of the ForGreer initiative , which includes nearly $100 million in investments for the city over the next four years.

Also included in the initiative is a public safety training facility, a new fire station in northern Greer and an additional downtown parking garage.

⁠Some residents like Billy Ray Williams supported the decision to invest in a sports facility.

“It’ll bring more festivals and more opportunities for us to enjoy. I mean we got stuff in downtown Greenville and know we’re gonna have it in Greer,” said Williams.

It was a sentiment shared by fellow resident Jamie Campbell.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Campbell. I think it’s better for kids to be playing sports than play video games which only exercise their thumbs.

Some people online expressed concerns about rising taxes to pay for the facility, but Hopper said the property taxes were raised “nominally” and the city wants to drop back the rates as soon as possible.

Danner said the project should pay for itself over time and asks the community for patience.

“Sports tourism business is a billion-dollar business in South Carolina,” said Danner. “More than even that and so this is an opportunity for us to get in the game with other communities, so to speak.”

According to Danner, the city expects to break ground within the next 18-24 months, and then expects construction on the sports facility to wrap up within 18-24 months after that.

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