Brian Knepper, president and CEO of Blue Creek Sports & Entertainment, told the Anthony Wayne Local Schools Board of Education that his investor group seeks to buy a roughly 25‑acre parcel owned by the district on Dutch Road to build a privately financed, multi‑phase indoor sports complex.

Knepper said the project would be built without taxpayer dollars and would provide year‑round indoor practice and tournament space for Anthony Wayne youth and high‑school athletes, while bringing outside visitors and tenant businesses to the community.

“The value to the Anthony Wayne community — this facility would provide local facilities for Anthony Wayne youth all the way up to the high school level,” Knepper said, adding that initial shareholders are local alumni and that the venture is structured as a shareholder LLC. He said the first phase’s construction cost is estimated at $5 million to $6 million, with a planned ground‑breaking in 2026 and an opening in late 2026 or spring 2027.

What was proposed: Phase 1 — an arena building with three basketball courts (convertible to six volleyball courts), a four‑mat wrestling arena and roughly 1,200 seats, plus a smaller dedicated practice mat area and locker/concession/tenant spaces. Phase 2 — a 240‑by‑360‑by‑60‑foot turf dome large enough for a regulation football field and multiple partitioned turf fields (targeted for 2029–2030). Phase 3 — two ice rinks and supporting space (Knepper estimated that ice facilities would cost between $8 million and $12 million). Knepper said the full campus would include tenant spaces for sports‑related businesses (dance studio, fitness gym), a 3,200‑square‑foot rentable community room and exterior fields that the venture would seed and maintain for public use.

Funding and operations: Knepper said the venture has a small initial group of local investors (six at the time of the presentation) who plan to expand to a limited number of shareholders and that the business model depends on event advertising, larger tournaments, tenant rents and auxiliary services (personal training, a sports travel wing) for revenue. He said sustainability measures being explored include geothermal heating in the slab, rooftop solar arrays and rainwater capture for toilet use to reduce impervious‑surface runoff.

Site, zoning and approvals: Knepper said the parcel on Dutch Road owned by Anthony Wayne Schools is about 25.03 acres, and he described conversations with the Village of White House and Waterville Township. He said the project would be allowable under township rules with a rezoning or could be annexed to White House; he also identified site considerations including flood‑plain constraints, stormwater retention and a likely traffic study.

Board reaction and public‑interest points: Board members asked about sustainability, light and noise impacts, community outreach and investor composition. Miss McKnight asked specifically about solar arrays and light/noise mitigation; Knepper said lighting would be limited, tenant spaces would face the homes and landscaping would be used to reduce visual impact. Board members expressed support in principle: several said the privately financed facility could reduce the district’s burden to build athletic facilities while keeping benefits local.

No board vote or formal commitment: the presentation was informational; the board did not vote on land sale or development approvals. Knepper said he is prepared to begin site planning, surveying and the permitting process if the district and local jurisdictions reach an agreement on land purchase and zoning. He asked the board for consideration of the district parcel and said he would remain available for follow‑up questions and community input.

Knepper’s direct quote on local investment: “All of the initial shareholders are graduates of Anthony Wayne. They’re all local. They all have kids either that just graduated or are still in the system. So we’re very invested, not only in our local community, but are in our local schools.”

Knepper also noted the venture’s goal to collaborate with Anthony Wayne Youth Foundation to ensure steady year‑round facility usage and to host tournaments that could generate visitor spending at local businesses.