The Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex, a 100-acre youth sports development located an hour southwest of Chicago, is scheduled to open this weekend with a marketing and event ledger that has exceeded even the most optimistic projections.
Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex
OWNER: Village of New Lenox, Ill.
COST:
$70 million
ARCHITECT: JLG Architects
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Northern Builders
OPERATOR/SPONSORSHIP, PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENT BOOKING: The Sports Facilities Companies
The complex consists of nine pro-sized baseball/softball fields that are convertible to 11 full-size soccer fields or 22 multisport fields.
There has been more than $2.5 million in marketing revenue already booked over the next five years, said Jason Clement, co-founder and CEO of The Sports Facilities Cos., more than double the pro forma projections.
SFC handles sales and marketing for the Cross town project and operates 89 other municipal properties and is involved in 72 feasibility studies, Clement said.
The complex has amassed a corporate partner roster rarely seen in youth sports developments.
Brand (category)
- Wintrust Financial Corp.: 3-year, $375,000 naming-rights deal
- PepsiCo Beverage Sales (nonalcoholic pouring rights): 7-year, $353,500; Pepsi Play Area
- Molson Coors distributor Kozol Bros.: 7-year $350,000; 3,300-square-foot Coors Light Chill Zone beer garden
- Beggars (pizza): 5-year, $150,00
- Silver Cross Hospital: 4-year, $53,876
- Gas N Wash (car wash and fuel station): parking lots naming rights
- Phillips Chevrolet (automotive): championship field naming rights
- Illinois Bone & Joint (sports medicine and orthopedic)
Additionally, the complex has competitions booked every weekend through June 2026, boosting the projected direct spend by out-of-market participants and attendees up from the project’s original $12.8 million forecast to $37 million, Clement said.
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The grand opening will be held June 28, and the first event will be the Perfect Game Invitational National Championships youth baseball tournament July 3-7; the tournament has 96 teams and 1,300 players registered. Other events already booked through June 30 of next year include baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and/or flag football tournaments.
Govinda Hospitality has a $1.57 million agreement to build a combined Hampton Inn & Suites and Home2 Suites hotel with approximately 150-160 rooms, according to city records. The company also has the option to buy an adjacent parcel to build a third hotel.
As part of the next phase of development, the Village recently approved construction of an indoor fieldhouse, estimated to cost $51 million and designed and built by the same team that collaborated on the complex.
Nearly $1 billion in construction is scheduled to wrap up this year at youth sports developments, according to SBJ research.
