RAPID CITY — Now that wheels are in motion and a new sports complex is coming to Rapid City, the Rapid City Sports Commission wants to make sure the public’s voices are heard. 

The sports commission is conducting a survey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6YQ7MQ6, that runs through Sept. 14. 

Back in June, Pete Lien and Sons donated 22.78 acres in north Rapid City for both the sports complex and other future developments. The location is near the intersection of Seger Drive and 143rd Avenue.

“The two things that we knew for sure are, we need an indoor turf space and indoor court space,” Rapid City Sports Commission Executive Director Domico Rodriguez said. “Rapid City is one of the few places I've ever been that doesn't have a community center, so that's why we're putting it out to vote or securing information through this survey is to see what the community needs.”

Rodriguez said that he knows people want to see more space for ice activities and pool space as well. But says the cost and infrastructure aren’t there for those to be included in this particular sports complex.

Currently, the proposed indoor facility, estimated to cost a total of $50 million when finished, will sit on 3.36 acres and include three primary sections. 

That includes eight convertible basketball courts, into volleyball and pickleball courts. A hybrid indoor turf facility that can be converted into a youth multi-purpose field, three small-sided multi-purpose fields, one baseball/softball infield, or four batting cages/pitching tunnels. The performance area will include turf, a sprinting track area, along with an area for batting cages/pitching tunnels.

Rodriguez emphasized that the next closest cities with a facility comparable to what this future sports complex will be are in Sioux Falls, Casper or even Denver.

It’s “a community center on steroids,” but given Rapid City’s fixture as a regional hub, it makes sense that Rapid City has one of its own, according to Rodriguez.

“We don't have the population density out here, so we're a central hub for anybody around three and a half, four hours away, who are all coming here at some point in time to participate. We're a regional hub, so we are right for this,” Rodriguez said. “And the numbers that we have as part of our facilities surveys that we got a couple of years ago outline that this is how communities are becoming more prevalent year-round. … We have something that other communities don't have, which is already built in tourism, hotel rooms, amenities, all the things we do now. We get to grow that year-round.”

On Tuesday night, the Rapid City City Council approved a TIF, a tax increment financing district, that was a part of a larger TIF district that also included the sports complex. Additionally, Rapid City has pledged $5 million in Vision Funds to help with the proposed project.

Location of the land donated by Pete Lien and Sons. (Courtesy)

Rodriguez emphasized that while the city is helping in getting this project going, in addition to the large donation from Pete Lien and Sons, he wants to emphasize that, contrary to what many believe, the facility isn’t being paid for by increasing taxes.

“Hopefully this gives us an opportunity to dispel some of those misconceptions,” Rodriguez said. “The big ones are, is this going to raise our taxes? No, you're not going to raise any taxes in the time being.

“Also, people are saying, can this money be used for roads, for schools? Those are separate pots of money. The one thing that this complex can do is drive sales tax, tax revenue and sales tax. Increases that will help the city's overall budget to fix roads, to hire more police officers, to hire more firefighters. So it can potentially be an economic driver.”

Rodriguez also said hotels are adding a charge in their services to help put forth “about $1.5 million annually to help with the debt service and the maintenance of the facility, so it doesn't fall on the city's budget, and it doesn't take away from some of those vital resources the city needs.”

As of Sept. 2, Rodriguez said they were just shy of 900 responses in their survey, which he described as an “overwhelming” number of supporters to the project, with more than 75% of respondents in support.

While no timeline is currently set, Rodriguez said he is hopeful that construction on the project can start sometime next summer.

Wes Ashton of Black Hills Energy, Domico Rodriguez of the Rapid City Sports Commission, Pete Lien of Pete Lien & Sons Inc. and Mayor Jason Salamun announce land donation of 22.78 acres for indoor sports facility and other development on Monday, June 26, 2025, at the intersection of Seger Drive and 143rd Ave. in Rapid City. (Courtesy)

Following the survey, Rodriguez said he plans on sharing the results with as many local organizations, city organizations and people as possible. 

For now, Rodriguez said they want to make sure people’s voices are heard on what they want out of this facility.

“We're molding this clay as we speak,” Rodriguez said. “What we can include in this facility that the community wants and could utilize is the important thing.” 

The survey closes on Sept. 14. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6YQ7MQ6