Latest news with #sportsfacilities
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Brighton council to unveil plans for Withdean swimming pool
Initial designs for a new swimming pool at a Brighton sports centre will be put on public display on plans for the 25m pool at the Withdean Sports Complex will be unveiled online ahead of a public consultation.A Brighton & Hove City Council spokesperson said work on the pool was hoped to start in the "early part of 2026", subject to a full planning Robins, cabinet member for sport, said the council wanted to provide "modern, sustainable and affordable sports facilities for all". An online survey on the five-lane pool will run until 27 June, and three public events are being can see the plans on Tuesday at Westdene Library, and the following Monday and Tuesday in Withdean Sports Complex.A planning application for the swimming pool is due to be submitted in the summer, a council spokesperson Robins said: "It's incredibly exciting that plans for this much-needed new swimming pool at Withdean are about to be unveiled."I'm looking forward to seeing the plans and would encourage residents to get along to the drop-in sessions and complete the survey to help us shape this exciting and much needed new facility."Councillors were previously told the new facility could generate £12,000 profit per year.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Missouri to hold special session on aid for tornado victims plus Chiefs and Royals stadiums
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers are to kick off a special session Monday to consider aid for tornado victims and a package of financial incentives aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from leaving the state for new or improved facilities in neighboring Kansas. Gov. Mike Kehoe announced the special session Tuesday, less than two weeks after a deadly tornado hit St. Louis and the Legislature wrapped up its work without giving final approval to a late-developing plan that would authorize state bonds for the Chiefs and Royals valued at up to half the cost of the stadium projects. Missouri officials are scrambling to come up with an offer because Kansas lawmakers last year authorized bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums, paying them off over 30 years with revenues from sports betting, Kansas Lottery ticket sales, and new sales and alcohol taxes. The Chiefs and Royals have played professional football and baseball for five decades in side-by-side stadiums in eastern Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri, drawing fans from both sides of the split metropolitan area. Their stadium leases run until 2031, and Royals owner John Sherman has said the team won't play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season. Jackson County voters turned down a sales tax extension last year that would have helped finance a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City and an $800 million renovation of the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium. That prompted Kansas officials to put together an offer and forced Missouri officials to recalculate their plans. The Chiefs and Royals are part of a new round of stadium construction that is underway for professional sports teams across the U.S., with taxpayers often helping to pay the multibillion-dollar tabs. Many economists contend public funding for stadiums isn't worth it, because sports tend to divert discretionary spending away from other forms of entertainment rather than generate new income. But Kehoe said the teams provide a major economic benefit. Supporters of the projects also point to the sense of community and national attention that sports teams can bring, noting the three recent Super Bowls won by the Chiefs and the Royals' World Series title a decade ago.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
‘Woefully inadequate': Sportsground has six toilets for 4000 people
Tauranga Netball needs more toilets at Blake Park as the game grows in popularity. Photo: LDR / Talia Parker "Woefully inadequate" toilet provisions at a busy Mount Maunganui sports facility have prompted debate about who should pay and how much to address the issue. Tauranga Netball asked the Tauranga City Council for $20,000 to lease five portaloos toilets at Blake Park during the winter sports season, saying the facility's six loos were not enough when one games night alone attracted 4000 people each week. The club had leased additional portaloos from April to September in the last few years to cover the shortfall. Tauranga City councillors discussed the issue, and other community funding requests, on Monday during Annual Plan deliberations. The draft 2025/26 plan, which proposed an overall rates rise of 12 percent, received 968 written submissions and 70 people spoke at hearings this month. Mayor Mahé Drysdale said $20,000 for toilets for six months seemed "expensive". Mayor Mahé Drysdale at the Tauranga City Council 2025/26 annual plan hearings. Photo: LDR / Alisha Evans Council community services general manager Barbara Dempsey said the price was based on what the club paid in previous years. Because there was an accessible toilet, it was more expensive. Council spaces and places manager Alison Law said the cost also included servicing. Drysdale asked how much it cost to buy a toilet. Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular said she had asked a company that morning but was waiting to hear back. Drysdale said the council had a duty to provide toilets at reserves but netball brought in a "huge number" of people and that meant more loos were needed. "I'm just trying to understand whether that should be a council cost or a sport cost." Dempsey said historically it was the council's responsibility to provide public toilets to support recreation facilities. The growth of netball had outstripped the amenities, and it was up to the council whether it wanted to fund the extra toilets, she said. Tauranga Netball's Annual Plan submission said there were 4000 attendees at Friday night college netball and 38 teams for junior netball on Saturday. It said the current six toilets were "woefully inadequate" and the excessive demand resulted in "unsanitary and unsafe conditions". Councillor Glen Crowther said Tauranga Netball was asking because plans to move netball to Baypark had not happened, so the club was incurring unexpected costs. "I do agree with the view that hopefully we'll get them cheaper, that might make this a less contentious issue." Tauranga City Councillor Glen Crowther. Photo: LDR / Alisha Evans Councillor Rick Curach said he was happy for the council to provide in-principle support for the funding, but he wanted the costs confirmed. Drsydale wanted to see if the council could "get a deal". Councillor Steve Morris said the council didn't want to flush money away. The council agreed in principle to give Tauranga Netball the funding, with a final decision to follow. On Tuesday, council staff provided a quote from one company for four standard portaloos and an accessible one at $42,000 for six months' hire and servicing. The cost of buying a standard portaloo was $1800 and servicing five loos for six months would be $3640. The council also voted on funding requests from several other community groups on Monday. They agreed in principle to give Mount Maunganui Cricket Club $73,300 for relocatable changing rooms at their Blake Park grounds. Surf Life Saving New Zealand would get $16,080 to extend its paid lifeguard services at Tay St beach for three weeks over summer. Drysdale said if one life was saved, that would be more than value-for-money for the council's investment. Councillors declined ARGOS Gym Sports $67,000 for new kitchen and cafe facility, and Bowls Matua would not receive $180,000 to upgrade its third green. The Annual Plan deliberations continue until Thursday. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A look at the Southwest Missouri high school football, athletic indoor facilities
Southwest Missouri has seen a boom in indoor athletics facilities over the last decade, and more are scheduled to open over the next few years. The Joplin area got a head start, but the Springfield area is catching up. Strafford opened its 50-yard indoor football field in 2022, which was followed by Ozark's in 2024. Nixa and Logan-Rogersville will open theirs this summer, while Republic will break ground on its $22 million facility in the coming months. Advertisement Administrators believe more will be built across the state over the next decade. Springfield Public Schools plans to build one in the next few years for its five high schools. Here's a look at the indoor facilities across the region. Vote now: Who in Southwest Missouri has the best high school football stadium? Carl Junction Opened: 2016 Cost: Part of a $13.5 million project Carl Junction built a storm shelter that doubles as a multi-purpose indoor practice facility with artificial turf and batting cages. Carthage Opened: 2019 Cost: $2.2 million The Tiger Activity Center (TAC) opened in Fall 2019 with a 40-yard indoor football field, plus a 10-yard endzone. About $1.5 million came from the Kent D. & Mary L. Steadley Memorial Trust, with $500,000 coming from the McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital Trust. Another $300,000 was raised by local patrons. Cassville Opened: Unclear Cost: Unclear Advertisement Messages to Cassville regarding its indoor facility went unreturned. The Wildcats have had one on campus since at least 2009. Logan-Rogersville Opening: 2025 Cost: Part of a $32 million bond Voters approved a no-tax-increase bond in April 2022, which provided the Rogersville school district $32 million to construct and renovate classrooms at its schools, build and renovate libraries, construct a storm shelter, improve athletic facilities, and develop its indoor athletics facility. The indoor facility includes a 50-yard football field, a new weight room, coaches' offices, batting cages, locker rooms, a sky bridge connecting it to the high school and several other additions. A full turfed football practice field will reside right outside the building. Marshfield Opened: 2025 Cost: Part of a $10 million bond issue Advertisement Marshfield recently opened a multi-purpose building that was part of a 2023 bond issue with no tax increase. The issue also included constructing a storm shelter and expanding the agriculture department shop. The storm shelter was built with the idea of also using it as a multi-purpose building, which includes space for athletic practices. Neosho Opened: 2021 Cost: Part of a $22 million bond issue Neosho opened the La-Z-Boy End Zone Facility in 2021. It features a 40-yard football field plus a 10-yard endzone, batting cages, locker rooms, a weight room and coaches' offices. The facility was approved by Neosho's "Next Step Ballot Measure" in June 2020 and received an additional $400,000 from La-Z-Boy Midwest. The $22 million bond issue also included the creation of a performing arts center among other projects. Opening: 2025 Cost: $18 million Advertisement Nixa is in the final stages of completing its indoor facility after a $47 million bond issue with no tax increase was approved in April 2023. The building cost $18 million, and the school is also looking to update its technology, renovate classrooms, and build storm shelters. Dubbed "The Apex," the indoor facility will feature a full-sized football field and additional space for soccer. It will also house the football locker rooms, community spaces, film rooms, golf simulators, and more. The facility also includes concession stands that will be used when Nixa hopes to build baseball and softball facilities on campus in the near future. Inside the new Ozark High School activities center on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Opened: August 2024 Cost: Part of a $19 million bond issue Advertisement Voters approved a no-tax-increase bond issue in April 2022, allowing Ozark to open its indoor athletics facility. The bond issue also allowed the district to build storm shelters at Ozark Middle School and Tiger Pay, an early childhood center. Republic Scheduled opening: August 2026 Cost: $22 million Republic will soon break ground on its indoor athletics facility after a no-tax-increase bond issue was approved last month. The building, which will cost around $22 million, will be located behind the high school. The Tigers will have a full indoor football field that includes drop-down batting cages. It will be part of a brick building that also houses classrooms, a band room, a weight room and coaching offices. There will also be a room dedicated to JROTC. Strafford Opened: 2022 Cost: Part of a $7.5 million bond issue Advertisement Strafford's "HPER Building" (for health, physical education, and recreation) was voted on as part of a $7.5 million bond issue passed in 2019. The building features a 50-yard football field and a 10-yard endzone. It also includes additional classrooms, batting cages and other features for other sports. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield area indoor high school football, athletic facilities
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Step forward in plans for Market Harborough country park
Plans to create a country park as part of a 450-home development in Leicestershire have been housing, a children's play centre, outdoor sports pitches and a local centre were first approved for the Manor Farm scheme, between Market Harborough and Lubenham, in of housing have since been built but developer Davidsons has now applied for permission to build a five-acre country park in place of the promised documents submitted to Harborough District Council said "significant retaining structures" would have been needed as the site set aside slopes, while fencing needed for the sports pitches "would not form a good neighbour" for the homes. The documents add parking for the facilities would put pressure on nearby roads. 'Informal setting' Davidsons said the new proposals "make a better contribution" to the Manor Farm development, adding funding would be provided for sports provision "off site".The plans include surfaced and unsurfaced pathways and "informal areas suitable for a 'kick-about'", said Davidsons.A planning statement said: "The new proposal for the country park gives somewhere the community can enjoy and use freely in an informal setting."Harborough District Council will consider the proposal in due course.
