Gulf Shores Approves New Multisports Facility

The Gulf Shores city council on Monday approved actions that will allow the destination to build a new sports facility at the pre-existing Gulf Shores Sportsplex for the promotion of youth sports and other sports-related travel.

The proposed $8.2 million, multi-sport facility at the Sportsplex will be about 40,000 square feet indoors and outdoors and feature beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, basketball, pickleball, wrestling, cheer, baseball, softball and dance. The city is expected to break ground in January 2024 and be operational by December 2024.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism closed on 111.26 acres of land in northeast Gulf Shores earlier this year which will be used by Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events for sports and event tourism. The Sportsplex is part of the overall venue offerings in the destination known for having hosted the NCAA Division I Beach Volleyball Championships since its inaugural championship in 2016 and before then, for four years of the AVCA national championships.

“The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Center’s (AGCSC) mission is to create an opportune environment for youth athletic development in a safe and open-air environment,” an item on the agenda stated. “AGCSC will provide our community with everything necessary to develop our youth to their full potential, socially, physically and mentally. They will use sports and fitness as a tool to teach and inspire leadership, success, and show how to give back to our community.”