On April 22, 2024, the Village of New Lenox, Il, celebrated the groundbreaking of the New Lenox Crossroads Sports Complex, a $70 million, 29-field complex designed by the Midwest-based firm, JLG Architects, with Sports Facilities Companies and Northern Builders. The new Sports Complex will be located at the crossroads of Interstates 355 and 80, next to Silver Cross Hospital, 45 minutes southwest of Chicago.
Expected to open by May 2025, the 100-acre outdoor sports complex will include a welcome center, 29 youth baseball and softball fields, 12 soccer or multi-use fields, two full-service concession stands, a beer garden, playground, and 10 batting cages. Fenced-in fields will be adjustable to accommodate all ages of athletes, and an extensive drainage system will allow the turf fields to be ready for play just minutes after heavy rain.
At the completion of phase one, New Lenox will begin planning for a second phase at an undetermined date, consisting of a 122,000 SF field house that will host basketball and volleyball courts. The second phase will be designed to accommodate regional tournaments for multiple other sports, including wrestling and pickleball.
As part of the development, over 10 acres of prime real estate will be dedicated to restaurant, retail, and/or hotel use. An additional 68 acres will be available for further development in the area just north of Silver Cross, with a proposed 500-home subdivision east of I-355.
The Village of New Lenox is home to approximately 30,000 residents, but due to immediate Interstate access, it branches to 582,000 Illinois residents situated within a 20-minute drive. Recognizing the potential for growth, the new Sports Complex does not intend to increase resident taxes, instead it will focus on covering its cost with the increased revenue from visitor taxes and the facility itself. The Village of New Lenox owns the property where the Sports Complex is being built.
With the capabilities to host regional athletic tournaments on the horizon, the Sports Complex is projected to have a $12 million economic impact in its first year, and $20 million by the third year. Once all phases are complete, the Complex is expected to draw in over 600,000 visitors annually from a multi-state region, with an expected annual economic impact of over $30 million.
Not only does the future Sports Complex and planned development benefit Silver Cross Hospital’s 2.2 million visitors annually, but it will also be a dynamic economic driver for the Village of New Lenox – from the first pitch in the spring of 2025 and years to come.
