Greenwood, Indy Fuel owners announce plans for $40 million ice rink and entertainment complex

Vic Ryckaert | IndyStar

For years, this farm field on Greenwood's east side has been a sad monument to broken promises.

It was supposed to be a Cabela's outdoors store and water park. Later, it was going to be a sports complex and hotel. Recently, it was poised to become a shopping mall.

The 60-acre site near I-65 and County Line Road was given yet another new future Monday, one that appears to borrow heavily from the sports complex idea that failed years ago.

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Jim and Sean Hallett, the father-and-son owners of the Indy Fuel hockey team, are teaming with Gershman Partners to build a $40 million ice rink and entertainment complex on that snake-bit piece of land.

The Greenwood Sportsplex would be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the nation.

“From day one, our mission has been to create and sustain a future for hockey in Indiana,” said Sean Hallett. “With the Greenwood Sportsplex, we’re able to move closer to that goal while offering a number of opportunities in other youth sports."

City taxpayers could chip in $8.5 million. The Greenwood Redevelopment Commission is meeting Monday to consider tax incentives for the project.

The 175,000-square-foot facility would host hockey, soccer, basketball and volleyball games.

Future plans for the site include restaurants, shops, offices and a 200-room hotel.

This would transform Greenwood into a destination for youth sports, Mayor Mark Myers said.

“The project creates a focus for youth sports in the Midwest and positions our city to host a variety of regional and national events," Myers said.

The ice rink facility had been planned to be built in city-owned Freedom Park, but neighbors objected.

So the Halletts' company, Indiana Ice Arenas, found a new location closer to the highway.

They up-sized the old Iceplex proposal to cater to more sports and anchor a bigger, bolder shopping and entertainment complex.

The 175,000-square-foot Sportsplex would have two ice rinks, two turf fields that convert to ice rinks, five basketball courts that convert to 10 volleyball courts, a fitness center, pro shop, locker rooms and food service facilities.

The project echoes a similar idea that died a few years ago. Florida-based GoodSports Enterprises wanted to build a $22 million hotel and sports complex on the same site, but they couldn't attract investors.

The major difference: GoodSports' plan didn't include ice rinks.

Greenwood officials have been waiting for years to see this plot of land developed.

In 2009, outdoor retailer Cabela's pulled the plug on a huge store and companion water park development on this same site.

In 2015, Gershman Partners, the same developer now involved with the new ice rink, announced plans for a $90 million mall with 700,000 square feet of restaurants and shops on this same site.

Christian Maslowski, president of the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, thinks this site finally has a project that will stick.

"They (the Halletts and Gershman Partners) are already established here in the local market," Maslowski said.

Both could have left when their deals soured. Instead, Maslowski said, the developers have shown patience and flexibility.

Finally, Maslowski noted, the land near I-65 is a much better location for a sports facility than Freedom Park ever could be.

"This," he said, "is a best fit."

Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @vicryc.