Davidson County commissioners approve $65 million sports complex after heated public comment

Davidson County commissioners on Monday approved a capital project ordinance to reserve $65 million for a proposed sports complex in Southmont, advancing the county’s plan after extended public comment and debate.

Supporters said the complex would bring tournaments, tourism and year‑round recreation; opponents asked the board to delay the decision until more study and public outreach. The board approved the ordinance in a close vote; commissioners said the project will move forward in phases with further design, permitting and community engagement to follow.

The project ordinance earmarks existing county funds for the sports complex and directs staff to work with the county’s Facilities Committee on phasing and contracts. County staff and commissioners explained the money comes from prior revenue growth and federal COVID‑era relief received under the American Rescue Plan Act, which county leaders said they placed into reserves and are now allocating to several capital priorities, including the complex.

Public comment was large and divided. Samuel Antonelli, head men’s soccer coach at Oak Grove High School, told commissioners the complex would give students new opportunities and that “every single high school in the county” would use it. Jonas Nader, who runs Davidson County youth soccer’s classic program, said field shortages were already forcing teams to turn away players: “We need this complex.”

Opponents, many of them residents near the planned Southmont site, cited traffic, infrastructure limits, possible RV camping impacts, the cost increase from earlier estimates, and whether the county should prioritize schools, paramedic pay or other needs. Dawn Hash, who opposed building now, urged commissioners to “postpone this entire project for another year and exercise some restraints by first exercising a real feasibility study open to the public.”

Commissioners and staff said the county has already considered comparable facilities and expects multi‑year phasing. County manager and staff noted studies that show similar regional facilities generating economic activity and said the board intends further public meetings and design work before construction begins.

The board’s approval authorizes staff to move the $65 million into a capital project account and to begin design and phasing with the Facilities Committee. Commissioners said the project’s operating budget assumptions will be revisited as design advances and that some operating costs would be offset by user fees and event revenue.

County staff also reiterated that the funding approach does not rely on a voter bond or immediate tax increases; the board used one of the county’s reserve funds and will present future budget impacts during the normal budget cycle. Commissioners said the board will review phasing, staffing plans and traffic mitigation before major construction is contracted.

The approval followed repeated requests from residents for more notice and public outreach; commissioners and staff said they will schedule additional public engagement as the design process continues and will provide more detailed financial and operational projections to the public.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the project ordinance authorizing $65 million to be transferred into the capital project account for the Davidson County Sportsplex; the motion carried on a recorded voice vote at the meeting.

The board moved on to other business after instructing staff to begin the next planning steps and to return with details on phasing, operating assumptions and traffic and public‑safety plans.