Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lancaster Ranch Fieldhouse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Director outlines Lancaster Ranch park buildout and options for indoor field house
Summary
Steve, the city director, told the board April 8 that Lancaster Ranch Phase 1B is under construction, the city will finish design and engineering for the full park this year, and a hired consultant will analyze feasibility and sites for a proposed indoor field house with projected sports-tourism revenue.
Steve, the director, updated the board on April 8 that Lancaster Ranch Phase 1B is under way and that the city expects to finish 100% design and construction documents for the full park by the end of 2026.
"By the end of this year, by December, we will have complete 100% design and engineering on the entire park and construction documents," Steve said, noting the design for the first 50-acre parcel will guide the later 100-acre phase and that staff will share photos as the site progresses. He said permitting work with the water management district, Army Corps of Engineers and utilities is part of that effort.
Steve also described the city’s work on a proposed indoor field house, saying the city has hired a consultant to update past feasibility work and model economic impacts, site options and operating scenarios. He said the consultant will analyze multiple sites in the market — including the Lancaster Ranch park and a roughly 7-acre downtown parcel near planned hotels — and that traffic, parking and commercial impacts will be part of the study.
"We're gonna look at both parcels, the advantages of both, and there are advantages of both," Steve said. He framed the facility as an economic-development tool for sports tourism: an indoor complex with multiple courts and breakout space that could drive hotel room nights and generate revenue through third-party operations and negotiated room-night percentages with local hotels.
A committee member raised traffic concerns for a downtown location; Steve said traffic and parking studies will be incorporated into the consultant’s analysis and pointed to the city’s complete-streets work intended to route through-traffic away from Main Street.
Steve gave a tentative project timeline: the RFP process for a partner or developer would take several months, and he did not expect the city to sign a construction contract in 2026. If a developer is selected in 2026, construction could extend into 2027 depending on the final scope.
Steve also confirmed that a demolition permit for the previous civic center is in place and that demolition work is expected soon, which he said will affect near-term site planning.
Next steps: staff will receive and review the consultant’s findings and report back to the board in the coming months, and any RFP or contractual actions will be brought forward for formal board consideration.
