JEFFERSON CITY — Developers of a youth sports and entertainment complex at the site of the St. Louis Outlet Mall in Hazelwood received a key piece of financing Tuesday from the state.

After expressing some skepticism over the plans in October, the Missouri Development Finance Board voted unanimously and with little comment to provide $6 million to help finance the sprawling project.

The pledge of state funds came after the developers agreed to build the 138-acre complex without a dome over three of the softball fields, which lowered the overall price from $71 million to $54.7 million.

An analysis by the development finance board shows the removal of the dome will reduce the expected number of visitors each year to 638,000, down from 750,000.