Final Beam in Place Atop Indoor Sports Center

The Indoor Sports Center (ISC) expansion, a Reclaiming First Project at Mercy Health Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, reached a major construction milestone last week. The Rockford Park District, Winnebago County Regional Tourism Facility Board, and CORD Construction held a Topping Off Ceremony, when CORD Construction placed the last beam on top of the 133,000 square-foot sports building. “At 420 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 70 feet high, the ISC expansion is one of the largest sports complexes in the Midwest. Enhancing and enlarging this top tourist destination will set us apart and allow us to capture a greater share of the sports tourism market to Reclaiming First, along with improving the general health and well-being of the citizens of Winnebago County,” said Rockford Park District Executive Director Tim Dimke. This week, crews are continuing to work on steel detailing, along with insulating and installing the roof, which means at this time, construction is about 48% complete.

About the Indoor Sports Center Expansion 

Construction started in summer 2016 on the Indoor Sports Center expansion. The project involves the addition of a large enclosed area with a full-size turf soccer field which converts into four small fields, a connector building at the main entrance, renovation of the existing Indoor Sports Center to include an additional synthetic turf field, and the reconfiguration of site access. The connector building will include a main lobby area, convenient concession services and restrooms. The indoor playing field is a synthetic turf field with paved spectator areas on either side of the field. A combination of dasher boards and netting will protect the major spectator area from action on the field. A series of large curtains running across the long and short centerlines of the building can be used to further subdivide the space into four activity areas. Renovations to the current ISC building include upgrades to the existing dasher boards in the west section; tread replacement to existing mezzanine stairs, and replacing the floor area in the east portion with new synthetic turf.

New Look 

In December 2015, the Rockford Park District announced a new partnership with Mercy Health, and the Sportscore Complexes were renamed as part of a 10-year agreement, which will total $2 million. A new logo has been created to reflect the naming rights partnership, and the new logo will begin being used in exterior signage, print materials, website and more. The integrated “o” is intended to symbolize the regional and national recognition of Mercy Health Sportscore Two, along with the fact that this campus is at the core of amateur sports for the Midwest and beyond. Additionally, many athletes develop the core characteristics of a champion at the Mercy Health Sportscore Complexes.

About Reclaiming First

Reclaiming First is a community-wide comprehensive plan to enhance and enlarge the sports facilities in the Rockford area to reclaim the region’s dominance in sports tourism.  The plan will retain, regain, and grow sports tourism in an increasingly competitive market vying for sports tourism dollars; and provide world class amateur sports tournament facilities for Rockford area residents. Amateur sports tourism at Sportscore One and Sportscore Two, currently accounts for $15.25 million in income for the Rockford region that would otherwise not occur. Local municipalities receive an estimated $1.8 million in the form of direct additional general fund tax revenue from amateur sports tournaments. Further, income generated from amateur sports tournaments means local citizens are able to use these facilities at reduced or no cost.

SUBMITTED PHOTO – The Journal.
The Rockford Park District, Winnebago County Regional Tourism Facility Board and CORD Construction held a Topping Off Ceremony when CORD Construction placed the last beam on top of the 133,000 square-foot sports building at Mercy Health Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.

The Winnebago County Regional Tourism Facility Board formed to administer the hotel tax includes Board/Council members and Chief elected officials and staff leaders from the Rockford Park District, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of Rockford, City of Loves Park, Village of Machesney Park, City of South Beloit, Village of Rockton, Village of Roscoe, Village of Cherry Valley and Winnebago County. For additional information on Reclaiming First, see www.reclaimingfirst.org.