
New youth sports complex in La Vista could be open this fall | Local News
More than a decade after the project began, the Nebraska MultiSport Complex in La Vista near Interstate 80 is close to hosting its first competitions.
In its first phase, the complex will have a dozen artificial turf fields with lighting that can be used for soccer, baseball, fast-pitch softball, lacrosse, rugby and flag football. Many will be ready by this fall, and all 12 will be available by spring 2023 for local, regional and national competitions.
“Phase I is currently focused on the development of field sports (and) to create a championship complex,” Craig Scriven, executive director and vice president for the Nebraska MultiSport Complex, said at a Friday press conference. “The Nebraska MultiSport board of directors listened intensely to the community and their needs. And their needs were for a regional sports facility.”
Organizers say they expect the complex to be a “world class facility.” It is being developed near Giles Road and Eastport Parkway, near PayPal and across Giles from Cabela’s.
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The complex is projected to have a $9.9 million annual economic impact, generating $401,000 in sales and lodging taxes. That’s based on estimates that it will draw in over 32,000 overnight visitors and another 39,200 local visitors annually. It will also create jobs during and after construction.

A rendering shows what some of the fields at the Nebraska MultiSport Complex in La Vista will look like.
“The out-of-town visitors will come in (and) not only will they stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants, they’ll visit the SAC museum, they’ll go down to the Old Market,” said La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig. “They’ll go down and catch a lot of the other amenities that we have in this area and that’s why it’s so exciting to us.”
The project initially began back in 2011. In 2015, the Nebraska Multisport Complex board chose La Vista over a site in Council Bluffs after plans fell through to build the complex at Tranquility Park in Omaha. A year after the 2016 groundbreaking, the La Vista complex was being described as a $125 million project with plans for two Olympic-sized pools, 24 tennis courts and 12 soccer fields. But the effort stalled.
Still, in October 2021, La Vista’s City Council issued $3.5 million in economic development bonds to support the project.
“You know throughout all of this, we didn’t lose our faith,” Kindig said. “I’m so happy that’s what it was because we didn’t want to pass on a project of this magnitude. It will become a regional attraction, if not a statewide attraction.”
It wasn’t clear Friday exactly how much the current Phase I plan is costing and what will come next, although there’s talk that Phase II will involve tennis courts, an indoor field house and year-round athletic facilities.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said sports are significant for the state, citing Omaha’s long connection with the College World Series, past hosting of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and local university teams. Omaha also will host the NCAA volleyball Final Four in December.

The first 12 fields at the Nebraska MultiSport Complex in La Vista will be able to host a variety of sports.
“That just shows the high demand and why we need a field like this multisport complex because Nebraska is getting involved in sports,” Ricketts said.
About 62% of 7- to 16-year-olds are involved in some form of sport, most of which are team sports, he said.
Many young regional and local sports teams travel to other cities to compete because of the limited venues in Nebraska, said Lisa Roskens, a board member with the multisport group. The goal is for more of those tournaments to be held here.
Several youth players from the Evolution Soccer Club are looking forward to the planned turf fields and the prospect of less travel.
“It’s going to be fun because we don’t have to travel all the way to Kansas City and back,” one player said.
Scriven said the complex expects to work with a number of partners including Alliance Soccer Leagues, Bellevue University, Evolution Soccer Club, KC Sports and the National Competitive Soccer League. The complex also received several letters of intent from various organizations for events and tournaments that will be announced closer to the opening of the facility.
“It’s going to be a game changer for the state of Nebraska and for the kids, and also the adults, who will be playing here,” said Mike Cassling, board chairman of the multisport complex.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2022

Riverside’s Tony Berger wins the class D 110 meter hurdles at the Nebraska state high school track and field tournament on Saturday.

South Platte’s Haily Koenen prepares for her next attempt in the class D shot put at state track on Saturday.

Hartington Cedar Catholic’s Jaxon Bernecker throws discus in class C at state track on Saturday.

Ainsworth’s Carter Nelson makes an attempt in the class C pole vault at state track on Saturday.

Fremont Bergan’s Koa McIntyre celebrates winning the class C 100 meter dash at state track on Saturday.

Lincoln Lutheran’s Logan Lebo, left, finishes second to Grand Island Central Catholic’s Brayton Johnson, right, class C 400 meter run at state track on Saturday.

Oklahoma State’s Chelsea Alexander (55) is hit by the glove of Nebraska’s Billie Andrews (6) while sliding into second during the Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State University on Saturday. Oklahoma State won the game 7-4.

Waverly’s Drew Miller tags out Elkhorn North’s Drew Harper at third base in the third inning during the class B baseball state championship game on Friday.

Nebraska’s Sydney Gray (7) bats in the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State University on Friday. The Huskers won the game 3-0.

Nebraska is introduced ahead of the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State University on Friday.
McCook’s Chayse Friehe competes in the Class B pole vault during Nebraska high school state track and field at Burke Stadium in Omaha on Wednesday.

A mask ls partily covered by petals that blew off a nearby blooming tree in a parking lot in Omaha on Monday.

Head Groundskeeper Zach Ricketts, left, works on the field while Carol Szczepaniak votes in Nebraska’s primary election on Tuesday at Werner Park.

Larnisha Dortch fills out her ballot at Fontenelle Forest during Nebraska’s primary election on Tuesday.

Firetrucks spray water on a fire at the Flora Apartments, 2557 Jones St. on Wednesday.

Kearney’s Brayden Andersen can’t hold onto this pop-up hit by Millard West’s Nixon Snyder in the bottom of the third inning during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday. It was ruled to hit and Snyder eventually scored that inning.

A dragonfly zooms past Lincoln East’s Jalen Worthley as he throws the games first pitch against Elkhorn South during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Lincoln East’s Jalen Worthley started the game against Elkhorn South during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Lincoln East’s A.J. Seizys scores after a bunt by Jaelyn Welch and an error by Elkhorn South catcher Cole Goeser in the second inning during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Lincoln East’s Jeter Worthley watches a pitch go by against Elkhorn South during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Quiana Smith, left, talks about her late father Rudy Smith Sr. with support from Rudy’s widow Llana Smith and son Rudy Smith Jr. during a ceremony to rename a section of Lake Street near 34th Avenue to Rudy Smith Sr. Street on Saturday. Rudy Smith Sr. was a longtime World-Herald photojournalist.

Waverly’s Landon Tjaden (8) and Scottsbluff’s Jose Rodriguez (17) chase the ball into shadow during the Scottsbluff vs. Waverly NSAA Class B state quarterfinal boys soccer game in Omaha on Thursday. Waverly won the game 5-4 after a shootout.

Omaha Duchesne’s Claire Niehaus (18) takes a corner in the Omaha Duchesne vs. Bennington NSAA Class B state quarterfinal girls soccer game in Omaha on Wednesday.

Members of the media await results during the Brett Lindstrom for Governor election results watch party in Omaha on Tuesday. The race was called for Jim Pillen.

Brett Lindstrom, Republican candidate for Nebraska governor, walks off the stage, with results projected on him, after conceding the race during an election results watch party in Omaha on Tuesday. The race was called for Jim Pillen.

Gretna’s Colton Damme (5) leaps over Millard South’s Sam Stutheit (16) as he slides to the ball in the Gretna vs. Millard South NSAA Class A state quarterfinal boys soccer game in Omaha on Tuesday. Gretna won the game 4-1.

The Omaha Marian vs. Lincoln Pius X NSAA Class A state quarterfinal girls soccer game in Omaha on Monday. Omaha Marian won the game 5-3.

A mask ls partily covered by petals that blew off a nearby blooming tree in a parking lot in Omaha on Monday.

People and vendors line 11th Street, looking north towards Jackson Street on the first day of the Omaha’s Farmers Market on Saturday.

Steve Kunasek plays the Cajun accordion on the first day of Omaha’s Farmers Market on Saturday. Kunasek normally performs with The Prairie Gators.

The new signs for CHarles Schwab Field are now installed. The field was formerly TD Ameritrade Park.

Papillion-LaVista South’s Cole Krska (right) celebrates with Andre Santamaria after Santamaria scored a goal during their district final against Omaha South at Papillion-LaVista South High School on Wednesday.

Chelsea Souder, the founder and director of Nebraska Abortion Resources, speaks as hundreds of people rally for abortion access rights after a leaked draft a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade become public outside the Omaha and Douglas County Civic Center on Tuesday.

A pigeon builds a nest in the sign on the DoubleTree hotel located at 1616 Dodge Street on Tuesday.

Omaha Bryan’s Cesar Hernandez (8) celebrates his corner kick goal as teammate Christofer Gallardo-Mejia (14) comes up behind him in the Omaha Central vs. Omaha Bryan boys soccer district semifinal game at Omaha Bryan High School on Monday. Omaha Bryan won the game 3-0.

Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central’s Jordan Ernstmeyer (left) and goalkeeper Sophie Wohlgemuth stop Norris’s Nicole Keetle (right) during their Class B state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Wednesday.

Omaha Westside’s Martin Mormino (right) makes a save as Creighton Prep’s Simon Metcalf tries to get his head on the ball during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Omaha Bryan’s Cesar Hernandez-Garcia celebrates after defeating Papillion-La Vista South in their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Papillion-LaVista South’s Cole Krska jumps up to kick the ball during their district final against Omaha South at Papillion-LaVista South High School on Wednesday.

Omaha Westside’s Coehen Rusin (left) collides with Creighton Prep’s Zamere Issaka during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Elyz Onofre hugs her son, Omaha Bryan’s Carlos Vargas Onofre, after Omaha Bryan defeated Papillion-La Vista South in their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Omaha Westside’s Johnathan Boyle (left) battles Creighton Prep’s Max Matthies for the ball during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Omaha Westside’s Coehen Rusin (left) battles Creighton Prep’s Brady Bragg for the ball during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
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