Casper leases land for indoor sports complex by events center
Casper City Council members voted Tuesday to lease land near the Ford Wyoming Center for the construction of a new indoor sports facility.
Under the agreement, the city will allow nonprofit WYO Complex to use the city-owned land, building the facility with private money. That group, made of Casper residents, was formed to push this project through.
The lease lasts 99 years and will cost WYO Complex $1 annually.
The Wyo Sports Ranch was first proposed in January as a way to expand capacity for high school sports tournaments, youth sports and other events at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Organizers estimate construction will cost around $39 million, mostly from private donations, and should be completed by summer 2024.
WYO Complex board member Jessica Hastings told council members on Tuesday that fundraising has begun and is going well.
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The facility is still in the design phase, according to a city memo. Local architecture firm Stateline No. 7 has been tapped for the design.
Current plans include an indoor turf space and separate hardwood courts for basketball, volleyball, cheer and other sports.
In a previous council meeting, Ford Wyoming Center General Manager Brad Murphy said the venue’s parent company is on board with the project and is interested in helping to operate the new space. Right now, the center hosts high school state tournaments for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and spirit teams.
Organizers with WYO Complex said previously they would likely seek a similar third-party management company once the center is up and running, putting out a request for proposals at that time.
Plans for the new facility would add around 700 additional parking spaces in the area. An initial plan proposed just 250 spaces.
PHOTOS: Casper Volleyball Invitational
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Big Horn’s Emma Prior dives for a ball during the Rams’ match against Laramie at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Big Horn head coach Alli Nikont watches her team during their match against Laramie at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Big Horn celebrates after winning a point against Laramie at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Laramie’s Maddy Stucky sets up her teammates to spike the ball during their opening match against Big Horn during the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Sept. 23 at the Ford Wyoming Center. The city of Casper will lease land near the center for a new indoors sports complex.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Big Horn’s Ashley Billings and Emmie Mullinax go up for a block during their match against Laramie at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
The Big Horn and Laramie volleyball teams shake hands after Laramie won its opening match of the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center. The tournament resumes today.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Kelly Walsh’s Abi Milby spikes the ball during the Trojans’ match against Worland at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Sept. 23 at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Kelly Walsh’s CJ Eskew sets the ball as teammates Wisdom Szymczak (7) and Peyton Carruth move into position for a kill during the Trojans’ match against Worland at the Casper Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Kelly Walsh’s Peyton Carruth hits the ball during the team’s opening match of the Casper Volleyball Invitational against Worland on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Kelly Walsh’s Makenna Lorenzen digs the ball during the team’s opening match of the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Big Horn’s Ashley Billings digs the ball during the Rams’ match against Laramie at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Thunder Basin’s Brooke Carroll digs the serve during their match against Evanston at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Kelly Walsh’s Abi Milby dives for a ball during the Trojans’ match against Cheyenne Central at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Sept. 23 at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Kelly Walsh’s CJ Eskew sets the ball during their match against Cheyenne Central the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Thunder Basin’s hits against Evanston during their pool play match Friday at the Casper Volleyball Invitational at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Thunder Basin’s Brooke Carroll spikes the ball during the Bolts’ match against Evanston at the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Thunder Basin’s Karly Del Toro and Bailey Barnes go up for a block against Evanston’s Halle Brady during the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Rock Spring’s Brynn Bider and Ella Brewster go up for a block during the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Rock Spring’s Ella Brewster servers the ball to Cheyenne East players during the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Casper Volleyball Invitational
Volleyball teams from across the state face off during the first day of the Casper Volleyball Invitational on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper.