Wichita Looks to STARs

A Kansas City developer Tuesday will present the Wichita City Council with a plan for $50 million of bonds for a large indoor sports field house as part of a larger project in northeast Wichita.

GoodSports, the developer, is asking the City Council to set a public hearing Feb. 14 on the creation of a 347-acre sales tax revenue — or STAR — bond district.

The tourism and shopping destination district would include a large Cabala’s sporting goods store, retail shops and restaurants.

The STAR program is a state economic incentive that allows Kansas’ 6.3% sales tax that is collected at designated tourist destinations to support tax-exempt bonds for some development costs.

The bonds are limited to major entertainment and tourism projects that have a significant economic impact.

STAR bonds must be approved by the secretary of commerce before being issued.

Developers must also provide $50 million in private financing and demonstrate that the sales tax revenue would be sufficient to support the bonds.

Most of the proceeds of the proposed bonds would finance the completion of a highway interchange at the site. The remainder would be dedicated to the construction of a 53,000-square-foot field house.

The field house would include six indoor basketball courts, outdoor fields and tennis courts, and venues for youth volleyball, wrestling, archery, cheerleading and fencing.

A feasibility study from GoodSports said the sports facility would attract 20 tournaments and 15 sports camps that would bring in 300,000 athletes and spectators each year.

When the facility is completed, the district would draw an estimated 3.3 million visitors per year, the report said.

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