The New Lenox Crossroads Sports Complex set to open this summer is also getting a new name.
The village signed a three-year naming rights agreement with Wintrust Financial Corporation, rebranding the $70 million facility as the Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex. Under the $375,000 deal, the Wintrust logo will appear on the monument sign, an Interstate 355 billboard, promotional materials and staff uniforms, said Mayor Tim Baldermann.
“Wintrust is proud to become the naming rights partner of this exciting sports complex that will create lasting memories for youth athletes and their families while driving significant economic impact for the Southland,” said Tim Lovell, chief executive officer of Old Plank Trail Community Bank, a Wintrust Community Bank, in a news release.
The 100-acre complex, located at the junction of Interstates 355 and 80 next to Silver Cross Hospital, features nine full-size baseball fields, 22 youth baseball and softball fields, and 11 multipurpose fields that can accommodate soccer, lacrosse and football, according to the complex’s website. The facility also has two batting cages, two auxiliary concession buildings, a playground, a Pepsi Play Area, a Coors Light Chill Zone and more than 1,300 free parking spaces.
Scott Brost, general manager for the complex, said construction will wrap up mid-June.
“It’s looking fantastic,” Brost said. “It’s a state-of-the-art facility with a ton of amenities designed for the community and for the players alike.”
The grand opening will be held 5-9 p.m. on June 28, and again from noon to 4 p.m. on June 29, Baldermann said.
“That’s when some of the kids and I will be throwing out the first pitch,” Baldermann said. “There will be activities on all the fields out there for kids and their families, and the concessions will be open and the beer garden will be open, but everything else is free.”
The first event at the new complex will be the Invitational National Championships youth baseball tournament, scheduled for July 3-7. Every weekend is already booked through June 30 of next year, Baldermann said.
Bleachers will be available at every field, Brost said, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs to sit on the grass or in other areas throughout the complex.
Over the next five years, the village is nearing $2.2 million in sponsorship agreements, which doesn’t include potential revenue from a possibl enaming rights deal once the initial three-year agreement expires, Baldermann said.
The turf fields are equipped with an extensive drainage system will allow the turf fields to be ready for play minutes after a hard rain, and fenced-in fields will be adjustable to accommodate the youngest athletes to those who can blast 400-foot home runs.
“They’re all artificial turf, and they all have top-of-the-line drainage, so 10 minutes after heavy rain, kids will be back out there playing,” Baldermann said.
As part of the next phase of development, a 140,000-square-foot indoor fieldhouse, estimated at $40 million, will be funded through tax revenue generated by hotels and retail businesses expected to be built around the complex. The facility will accommodate sports such as basketball, volleyball and wrestling, Baldermann said.
The village reached an agreement in February for a 147-room dual-brand hotel to be built on the far east side of the Route 6 frontage of the complex, Baldermann said.
As part of the deal, the village sold three acres to Govinda Hospitality for $1.57 million for the development of a combined Hampton Inn & Suites and Home2Suites hotel project, according to the sale agreement. The agreement also includes an option for Govinda to purchase an adjacent lot for another hotel.
“They’re just going through the final stages with their branding and with their architect, and we should be able to announce that pretty soon,” Baldermann said. “They will probably break ground in July.”
In front of the complex, there are 14 acres designated for hotel and retail use, and the village is in discussions with several restaurants and entertainment venues interested in purchasing portions of the remaining acres, he said. Another 300 acres north of Route 6 is being considered for development, including more hotels and businesses that would complement the sports complex, Baldermann said during his State of the Village address in the fall.
The complex is projected to host 30 events annually and attract about 277,000 visitors each year, according to its website. In its first year, it is expected to generate $12 million, with that figure projected to grow to about $20 million by the third year, according to the website and a village news release from when the project was first announced.
Silver Cross also supports the complex, Baldermann said, noting that its proximity to the hotel and retail options could be beneficial for hospital visitors.
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