Reno's Big Bet on Youth Sports

A local hotel-casino owner has ambitious plans to transform downtown Reno with up to 12 sports fields over the next six years. These fields will cater to soccer and lacrosse tournaments, as part of a new initiative called the Downtown Reno Amateur Sports Association.

Key Details

• Location: Fields will be near the J Resort Casino, which owns the land.
• City Council Meeting: The plan will be discussed on October 22.
• Expansion Plans: The owner also wants to expand the area around the Glow Plaza event venue.
• Initial Phase: The project will start with four fields, costing $5 million.
• Future Phases: The remaining fields will require additional funding, but land acquisition details are unclear.

Infrastructure and Community Use

• Parking: No concerns expected, as the fields will be near over 2,000 parking spaces.
• Tournament Capacity: Downtown Reno is expected to handle 25-30 youth sports weekends annually.
• Community Access: Fields will be available for community use when not hosting tournaments.
• Local Partners: Includes groups like the Reno Apex Club and High Sierra Lacrosse.

Economic Impact

• Expected Revenue: Families are projected to spend $1,000 each during tournament weekends.
• Annual Income: Could bring in $30 million to $35 million per year.
• Tax Revenue: Estimated at $3 million to $5 million annually.
• Hotel Partnerships: The owner hopes other hotels will collaborate to accommodate visitors.

The first soccer tournament is already planned for June 2026, marking the beginning of this exciting new era for Reno.