Holyoke officials announce plans for new sports complex

HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A major undertaking is happening in Holyoke to build a new sports complex, with the vision of making the city “the sports capital of New England.”

“This is going to be at least a $100,000,000 investment in this community that is going to generate millions of dollars of economic impact for the region. That’s exciting,” said Cesar Ruiz with the USA International Sports Complex Group.

Lots of smiles were seen Tuesday on the faces of many inside the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke as the city’s mayor, Joshua Garcia, and others made an announcement at least two years in the making that the city could have a new Olympic-style sports complex that would also have a special addition.

“Because the global sport of volleyball has made an incredible impact on people’s lives across the world, a sport that started right here in the city of Holyoke, our initiative to bring a sports complex to the city of Holyoke includes making it the new home for the Volleyball Hall of Fame,” Garcia said.

The initial plan is for a 140,000 square-foot indoor facility with 16 volleyball courts, as well as basketball and pickleball courts, soccer fields, and rock climbing. A new hotel would also be part of the project, which could bring in 30,000 room nights a year and it is projected the complex could create a $40,000,000 impact per year. The complex’s COO, Andrew Melendez, said this could also have an impact on future athletes within Holyoke Public Schools.

“We want to create MOU’s with the Holyoke Public Schools and ensure that their students get an elite center where they can train. I’m a Holyoker, born and raised. I went through the public schools and I would love the opportunity to be a Holyoke Knight and be able to train and condition at this sports complex,” Melendez said.

Right now, they are looking at potential sites in the downtown area and off of I-90 and I-91 by the Holyoke Mall. At the end of the day, there is one main goal the group has in mind.

“This is the team that we put together to make Holyoke the sports capital of New England,” Ruiz added. “It’s our tagline to bring the Volleyball Hall of Fame to a new home and make Holyoke the domestic and international volleyball tournament center right here in New England.”

The hope is to have construction on phase one begin in early 2025 and having something open by the end of 2026.