Athletics Leads the Cheer for COMO’s Economic Development

Sports tourism is an integral part of the city of Columbia’s economy. Our Parks and Recreation Department continues to emphasize sports and the development of athletic facilities as a key economic driver for our community.

Sporting events contribute to our economy in many ways, with residents and visitors spending money on hotel stays, local restaurants, gas, shopping, and visits to entertainment destinations in Columbia. With the renewal of the 2021 Park Sales Tax by Columbia residents, multiple park projects focused on the development of new sports facilities have continued to move through the planning and construction process. Each of the new facilities provides a dual benefit for the City of Columbia by enhancing sports facilities that can be used by Columbia residents and attracting visitors to the community through sports tourism.

In November 2019, the city dedicated the first phase of the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse. Located at A. Perry Philips Park, the 46,000 square foot indoor facility includes four hardwood courts, office space, a meeting room, concession area, and restrooms. The hardwood courts provide space for youth basketball, adult basketball, youth volleyball, adult volleyball, pickleball, futsal, wrestling, dance, cheer, and table tennis. The venue serves Columbia residents daily as a premier practice facility and has become a major tournament venue for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and pickleball. 

In May 2023, City Council authorized the construction of phase two of the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse. The second phase of the facility will include an additional four hardwood courts, office space, restrooms, and a large meeting room. The construction of phase two of the project is currently underway with an anticipated completion date of March 2025. The completion of the phase two construction project will create a 92,000-square-foot facility that will provide daily space for local athletes and coaches for practices, games, and leagues and allow city staff to attract regional and national indoor sports tournaments to Columbia. The Columbia Sports Fieldhouse has become an ideal location for indoor sports that is now being modeled in other communities throughout Missouri. 

The development of facilities to support sports tourism in our community continues to occur at Gans Creek Recreation Area as well. The 320-acre park located off East Gans Road became the home of one of the nation’s premier cross-country facilities in 2019. The city partnered with Mizzou Athletics to design and construct the course and supporting facilities. Since the course opened, it has hosted multiple Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) State Cross Country Championships, the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Regional Championship, and the 2021 SEC Cross Country Championships.   

This fall, park staff will complete the final two supporting facilities for the cross country course. The construction of the Gans Race Headquarters is in progress and will provide 1,900 square feet of indoor climate-controlled space at the course. The facility’s design will allow for multiple uses including race director space, official coordination, coach and staff meetings, and race hospitality. Along with this facility, a 15-foot-by-20-foot permanent covered space will be added for race clerking at the course. This small facility will replace the temporary space used for each race and allow for improved technology and communication when preparing athletes to run on the course. 

The timing of the completion of these facilities coincides with the city hosting the 2024 NAIA Cross Country National Championships and 2025 NCAA Cross Country National Championships. City staff and Mizzou Athletics had a vision for this facility, and the cross-country course continues to excel as a national running destination and economic driver for the city. 

Gabe Huffington is the director of Columbia’s Parks and Recreation Department.