Preliminary report issued on Etowah Mega Sports Complex

A group studying a possible mega sports complex for Etowah County has issued a preliminary report and will continue studying the issue and plans to visit several existing complexes to gather more information.

The report was written by Heather Brothers New, president of the Chamber of Gadsden & Etowah County and chairwoman of the Etowah County Mega Sports Complex Authority, and was released Monday.

The authority was established by a state House of Representatives resolution sponsored by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, that passed the Legislature in 2014. The resolution was not considered by the Senate because Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, said the issue should be considered by the Etowah County Tourism Board, rather than a separate body.

It called for a report to be delivered to the county’s legislative delegation 60 days before the beginning of the 2015 session March 3, dealing with the feasibility of a mega sports complex for the county, what should be included, a location, the cost associated with acquiring and maintaining a complex and possible funding.

Much of the text was lists of items mentioned by the authority during its meetings and by the public at various forums. Those items included amenities and features needed for different sports, possible locations, acreage needed and possible funding sources.

However, the report drew few conclusions, other than a 200-acre site will be needed for the complex.