‘Crucial for the community’: Lincoln Sports Foundation awarded grant to improve facilities

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A major investment is coming to Lincoln’s sports scene.

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners awarded the Lincoln Sports Foundation a $1 million grant.

“When we get grants like this, we can really maximize what we can do for the community,” said Sam Lesoing, executive director.

The foundation is located on North 70th Street and Arbor Road.

The grant comes just in time, as the nonprofit is noticing a lot more interest in its facilities.

“From 2022 to 2027, we’ve seen an increase of 500,000 visitors,” Lesoing said. “There were 250,000 in 2022, and we’re projecting over 700,000 in 2027. We’re expecting significant out-of-state tourism to the area.”

The money will be used to upgrade the Mezzanine to provide a better viewing area for visitors.

It will also go toward improving the restrooms and the lobby.

The improvements are expected to be completed by the spring of 2027.

They are working on adding more volleyball courts now.

It’s all aimed at bringing more people in and making them as comfortable as possible.

“I know there’s a lot of changing pieces within the youth sports infrastructure in Lincoln,” Lesoing said. “So to be able to do a project right now at this point, within Lincoln’s sports ecosystem is crucial for the community, and it’s awesome to see what this complex can be.”

The improvements are part of a bigger five-phase project.

Each step will get them closer to an expanded vision for the full 150-plus-acre campus.

“In 2018, the complex was kind of in a bad spot,” Lesoing said. “The facility is really run-down, and it’s been a whole team effort to really try to reinvest in this facility so it can be an asset for the community. Over the years, we’ve found different funding sources, and the county commissioners have been a huge advocate for the facility. It’s just really exciting seeing the community supporting this place again.”