CULLMAN, Ala. — The City of Cullman broke ground Thursday morning, Nov. 9, 2023, on the new OmniPlex Sports and Civic Center. The venue will be located adjacent to the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center and opposite the Field of Miracles in southwest Cullman.
“This is a significant milestone for our community,” said Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Executive Director Nathan Anderson. “It provides a much-needed large modern sports and events center that is versatile for all types of gatherings.”
The sale of the old Cullman Civic Center to Desperation Church in 2019 set the stage for the current project. Anderson explained that the delay in starting the OmniPlex project was due to extensive planning, community input and learning from other cities’ experiences to create a space tailored to the community’s needs and one that serves as an economic catalyst.
Encompassing around 115,000 square feet, the OmniPlex will boast a flexible open space with the capacity to accommodate eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts and multiple pickleball courts. “Its spacious event area is designed to host a wide array of gatherings and competitions,” Anderson detailed. Furthermore, the center will feature four medium-sized multipurpose meeting rooms and seven smaller ones, catering to various functions.
Anderson is confident in the center’s economic benefits. “We anticipate our first-year economic impact to be approximately $35 million,” he noted, drawing parallels to a similar facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina, which saw an economic impact of $55-60 million in its second year. The total construction cost for the OmniPlex stands at an estimated $20 million.
The name OmniPlex was chosen to reflect the center’s wide-ranging purposes. “The term ‘Omni’ means ‘All,’ symbolizing our commitment to providing a space that embraces all games, gatherings and community members,” Anderson concluded.
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs echoed the sentiment, highlighting the communal effort behind the project. “We are deeply grateful for our community’s support and patience throughout this extensive journey,” Jacobs stated. “Many individuals have been instrumental in shaping what we believe will become one of the premier indoor sports and event spaces in our region. This venue promises to enhance our city’s quality of life and boost our economy, and we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead.”
The OmniPlex is poised to become a cornerstone for community events and an engine for economic growth in Cullman. An estimated completion date is mid-January 2025.
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