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Consultant recommends western Caddo Parish corridor west of I‑49 as preferred area for sports complex
Summary
Consultant Scott Wisong presented three study areas and recommended the western part of Caddo Parish (west of I‑49) for site searches, citing available acreage, access and nearby hotel/restaurant options; he cautioned that some parcels lack utilities or require demolition.
Scott Wisong, the consultant retained to evaluate sites, told the committee his team examined three broad areas and prioritized the western corridor west of I‑49 because it offers multiple land options and better access to hotels and restaurants.
"So we're recommending that we're looking at the Western part of Caddo Parish on the 520," Wisong said, summarizing the study’s preference. He said the venue needs roughly 12.5 acres including parking, and that some candidate properties already have utilities while others would require significant infrastructure investment or demolition costs estimated at "3 to 5,000,000" for some sites.
Wisong reviewed traffic counts and visibility from I‑20, observed that some parcels have been on the market for years and thus may be negotiable, and recommended planning for expansion parcels (100–200 acres) in order to attract commercial development such as hotels and restaurants. He also recommended multiple public open houses and billboard marketing along corridors to boost visibility.
The consultant flagged environmental and greenscaping needs on developed sites and suggested examining LEED strategies, HVAC scheduling and potential solar arrays for long‑term operating savings. Commissioners asked about specific parcel counts and feasibility; Wisong said there were "about at least a dozen" target properties in the I‑20 corridor.
