By: Diane Benjamin
h/t a reader
This message was sent to soccer families:
Hello FCCI Families,
We wanted to share an exciting opportunity for our soccer community and ask for your support.
The Town of Normal is currently gathering community feedback regarding the possibility of developing a large sports complex facility similar to the Rantoul Family Sports Complex. Facilities like this could have a huge impact on youth sports in our area by providing additional field space, hosting tournaments and events locally, and continuing to grow opportunities for players and families throughout Bloomington-Normal.
As a club, we know firsthand how valuable quality facilities are for training, league play, tournaments, and overall player experience. This is a chance for our community’s voice to be heard. We encourage all families to take a few minutes to complete the feedback form linked below and share your thoughts and support for the project.
or
https://www.normalil.gov/1877/Parks-Recreation
Thank you for continuing to support soccer and youth sports in our community!
Tristan Alvarez FC
Central Illinois Director of Coaching
I asked GROK if the Rantoul Sports Complex was profitable. This was the answer:
No, the Rantoul Family Sports Complex itself is not strongly profitable on a standalone operating basis. It appears to operate roughly at or near break-even (or with modest surpluses/deficits covered by the village), but its primary value is in generating significant broader economic impact for Rantoul and Champaign County through visitor spending, tourism, and related development.
Champaign County is likely thrilled the Rantoul taxpayers built the complex. The original cost was $20 million, the final cost was between $24.8 million.
Normal wants to gift it’s citizens cradle to grave activities. Take the survey, it is long and mostly not about soccer.
The Underpass is a done deal or it wouldn’t be on the agenda: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5590
It sounds like a better idea than the underpass.