Sprawling sports complex proposed in Sacramento suburb. Here’s what we know
.jpg "An artist’s rendering shows the proposed Folsom Ranch Sports Complex, a 410,000-square-foot multi-use facility featuring an arena, ice rinks, outdoor turf field, and community event space. The development is planned for a 21-acre site south of Highway 50 in Folsom and will go before city officials in the coming months.")
A new development proposal outlines plans for a large-scale, multi-use sports and recreation facility in Folsom south of Highway 50.
The Mettle Shop, a sports and entertainment venue developer, announced Monday it filed a project application with the city of Folsom for the Folsom Ranch Sports Complex — a 410,000-square-foot facility planned for a 21-acre site at the northeast corner of Prairie City Road and Alder Creek Parkway.
The proposed complex includes a 3,000-seat arena, a full-sized NHL ice sheet, two additional NHL-sized practice rinks, and a 126,000-square-foot covered outdoor turf field with lighting, according to a news release from the company.
The Mettle Shop is a sports and live entertainment venue development company with experience managing and operating venues such as Golden 1 Center, Sutter Health Park, the Oakland Coliseum and Heart Health Park at Cal Expo.
Described as a multi-purpose facility, the complex plans to support a wide variety of athletic and community events.
“The facility is designed to host tournaments, practices, and public recreational activities for ice hockey, figure skating, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, lacrosse, soccer, and many other sports,” the company said. “When not used for sporting events, the facility can accommodate conferences, art installations, family festivals, live music and other community gatherings.”
Company officials said the venue would also house up to 24 volleyball courts that convert to 27 youth basketball courts. Additionally, there is 145,000 square feet of outdoor space and nearly 20,000 square feet dedicated to offices for medical treatment and sports rehabilitation.
The Mettle Shop CEO Joe Wagoner said the submission to bring the recreational facility to Folsom and the greater Sacramento region is “much-needed” in a company news release.
“The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will not only fill the regional void for ice sports but also provide flexible spaces for a wide range of indoor and outdoor athletic events, from basketball and volleyball to lacrosse and soccer,” Wagoner said. “Our vision is to create a venue that strengthens community bonds through sports, recreation, and entertainment.”
Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino echoed the sentiment in a city-issued news release, saying Folsom has been “eagerly waiting” a formal application for the sports site.
“A facility of this scale could bring exciting new opportunities for recreation, tourism, entertainment, and economic activity to our city,” Aquino said. “While the concept still needs to go through the city’s thorough review process, we appreciate the developer’s investment in Folsom and look forward to learning more as the proposal moves forward.”
The project application, including environmental analysis, is currently under review by the city and city spokesperson Christine Brainerd said the project could take about six months before it is heard by the city’s planning commission and the city council.
“We anticipate this project to be heard before the end of this year,” Brainerd said. “The exact timeline will depend on the results of the city’s review and the duration of the environmental review process. The community will be invited to participate in the review and evaluation process during the public hearings for the project.”
According to the developer, the complex is expected to attract more than 1.3 million visitors annually, support hundreds of jobs and generate an estimated $23.7 million in annual economic activity from retail, lodging, dining and entertainment.
