Fort Worth Leaders Prioritize Youth Sports Fields and Convention Facilities Upgrades

Fort Worth officials have proposed an $82 million, 12-year youth sports infrastructure plan to address field shortages, including a potential $40-50 million baseball/softball complex funded by 2030 bonds.

Youth Sports Plans and Stadium Exploration

City council unanimously approved a resolution to continue exploring a potential $145 million to $150 million soccer stadium and youth sports complex with 8,000-12,000 seats on the far north side near I-35W and Basswood Avenue. These steps reflect officials' focus on expanding access to athletic facilities across multiple project types.

The Athletic Performance Ranch, a free world-class training facility on a 150-acre ranch off I-20, serves over 1,000 student athletes weekly with top-tier tracks, courts, and fields used by NFL pros and Olympians. Officials have positioned this existing resource alongside new construction proposals as part of broader efforts to support local athletes.

Indoor Sports Complexes and Timeline Details

A new 26,000-square-foot indoor badminton and pickleball complex in the Riverside neighborhood is expected to open in January 2026, while Pickleball Kingdom will open its largest Texas facility later in 2026 in north Fort Worth. These openings add to the range of projects under discussion by city leaders.

Convention Center Expansion Phase

Fort Worth is advancing to the second phase of its $606 million Convention Center expansion, which includes demolishing the nearly 60-year-old arena and replacing it with a four-story structure by early 2030. Officials have tied this work to ongoing infrastructure investments across the city.

Next steps involve continued review of the soccer stadium resolution and progression through the approved phases of the Convention Center project, with funding and site decisions to follow established city processes.