Game-Changer: Multiuse community sports complex coming to Henderson.

December 19, 2022

Facility expected to yield enhanced quality of life, increase in visitors and tourism, plus significant economic impact. 

In early December, the Henderson City Council took an important first step in realizing a new community asset for the city when it voted to purchase the 35-acre site of the former Fiesta Casino for the purpose of developing a multipurpose indoor community sports complex. 

Responding to a critical demand.

Already a pro-sports hub, Henderson is home to the facilities and operations of professional teams from the NFL, AHL, WNBA, WFL and NBA G League. And now, in a rapidly growing city attracting a younger-skewing demographic, there is also pent-up demand for resident and youth sports opportunities, according to Jared Smith, Henderson Economic Development and Tourism Director. “This is a much needed addition to our community,” he notes.

While the facility will open vital year-round indoor recreational opportunities for local leagues and individuals, Smith points out the complex will also host national youth tournaments and traveling leagues from across the state, attracting visitor dollars to Henderson and stimulating commercial growth, creating a potential economic impact of $40 million annually. 

Due diligence leads to a wise investment.

The former Fiesta site, which had been vacant since the casino was demolished in September, was appraised earlier in the year for more than $56 million. However, city officials, who had already been investigating the purchase, were able to negotiate a sale for $32 million, and now this strategic investment is expected to yield a range of cascading benefits.

One important advantage will be the judicious site development resulting from City planning. In announcing the project Mayor Debra March said, “Applying the City’s planning expertise to the entire site now will ensure the highest and best possible use of the property. I’m thrilled our first investment will be a new multiuse community sports facility that is easily accessible to the youth and families of east Henderson.”

While the facility will be convenient for residents, the location on Lake Mead Parkway is also ideal for visitor attraction, a “gateway” to downtown, Smith says. “It’s a great location; it’s very visible. It’s almost a billboard for downtown.”

Along with the influx of visitor dollars, the complex will help spur additional commercial growth, including the type of dining and retail the Fiesta once offered. And the property’s 1,400-space parking structure still on site will be a boon to downtown business and development. 

“This kind of growth is important Henderson’s quality of life,” Smith says. “But it’s also important to the city’s mission of continually expanding its tax base in order to keep tax rates low.” 

Community value. Community vision.

Since the project’s key component and driving concern is making the complex a true community value, extensive public input will be sought and gathered over the next months in a master planning process that will assure resident needs and desires are heard and addressed.

Smith says, “As we decide what the complex is going to look like and what sports it will include, we’ll be actively engaging the community in what types of amenities and facilities are needed, not only inside the complex but on the whole site. I’m confident with the input of our citizens, we’re going to have the right facility with the right future. This is an exciting time for Henderson.”

Final plans are expected to be announced in July 2023.