Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The City of Rochester has chosen the location to build a massive sports and recreation complex. 

Read More: Three Sites Identified for Rochester Regional Sports and Recreation Complex 

The Rochester City Council will be asked to vote on authorizing the city to begin final negotiations to buy the property. The outdoor facilities are set to be built first. 

In 2023, Rochester voters approved extending the city’s sales tax to raise revenue for the sports complex along with street repair, flood mitigation control and housing. 

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$65 million of the sales tax revenue was earmarked for the sports complex. In August, the city selected three potential sites for the complex. 

The sites selected were Badger Farms along Valleyhigh Dr. Northwest on the west edge of the city, Rochester West Campus at the former IBM site and the Seneca Foods Corporation property in Southeast Rochester next to Shoppes on Maine retail center. 

Southeast Rochester Property Selected as Future Home for Rochester, MN Sports Complex

City officials decided on the Seneca Foods property to house the new sports complex, according to the agenda item for Monday night’s city council meeting. 

The site is approximately 160 acres and costs $5 million, the agenda item says. 

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City of Rochester
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Councilmembers will also be asked to allow staff and designers to continue moving forward on Phase 1 of the project, which is focused on the outdoor elements of the project, and to seek alternative funding sources to build indoor facilities at the future complex. 

A presentation set to be shown to elected leaders Monday night shows plans to build eight baseball/softball fields, two soccer fields, 12 pickleball courts, an accessible playground, basketball court, dog park, social gathering area, food hall, restrooms and concessions and a biking/walking connection to the Willow Creek trail. 

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City of Rochester
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The cost to build the outdoor facilities would be paid for through sales tax revenue, the city document indicates. 

Plans for Phase 2 of the project, which is centered around indoor facilities, include eight basketball/volleyball courts, an indoor track, fitness center, indoor turf training/play area, a family activity center/training area and space for a sports performance tennant and medical tennant. 

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City of Rochester
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Staff plans to explore state bonding dollars, local financing mechanisms, taxes on lodging, food and beverage, a future sales tax extension, external partnerships and other funding sources to pay for construction of the indoor facilities.

Plans for the massive complex call for 1,400 parking spaces. Monday night’s Rochester City Council meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m.

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Gallery Credit: Troy Dunken

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