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Steering committee backs Sports Facilities Company to run SportsOhio; council directs staff to negotiate agreement
Summary
Following a competitive RFP process, a steering committee recommended Sports Facilities Company (SFC) to manage the SportsOhio athletic complex. Council unanimously directed staff to negotiate a management agreement and asked staff to evaluate contracting through the Dublin CIC.
DUBLIN, Ohio — After reviewing proposals and interviewing finalists, a SportsOhio steering committee recommended Sports Facilities Company (SFC) as the preferred manager for the SportsOhio athletic complex; the Dublin City Council on March 3 unanimously directed staff to proceed with negotiations.
City staff said the city closed on three contiguous properties comprising about 243 acres in the West Innovation District (Carter Farms, Shepherd Excavating and SportsOhio) in late 2024 and has been operating SportsOhio under a temporary management agreement with the prior owner. A city-appointed steering committee including city council representation, community members and regional partners reviewed three proposals and narrowed the field to two finalists before unanimously recommending SFC on Feb. 19. Council then voted to direct staff to negotiate a management agreement with SFC.
Kendall Blake, presenting the recommendation, said SFC manages over 65 venues nationally, typically as a service provider rather than an owner. SFC's leadership outlined a proposed 90-day transition plan and told council it would focus on a mix of core programming (youth and amateur sports), tournaments, fitness classes and community events; SFC said it would emphasize transparent financial reporting, strategic marketing to grow regional and national events, and data analytics to optimize operations.
SFC's representative, Jim Arnold, told council the company is experienced operating preexisting facilities and aims to balance community access and event-driven revenue. The steering committee's memo highlighted SFC's operational experience, strategic planning ability and a collaborative willingness to structure a financial agreement that meets the city's objectives. Staff said it would work with public finance advisors and legal counsel to evaluate using the Dublin Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) as the contracting and financing vehicle.
Council thanked the steering committee and committee members for extensive outreach and review. The unanimous motion directed staff to begin formal contract negotiations with SFC and to return to council with proposed contract terms and an analysis of CIC contracting options. Blake said staff would work with SFC on a detailed operating plan, clarify maintenance and capital-repair responsibilities, and report back to council as negotiations progress.
