PHOTO GALLERY: Expansion of Round Rock Sports Center begins to take shape

Published on December 23, 2024 under RRnews

Construction on the Round Rock Sports Center expansion recently hit a milestone with the installation of tilt walls, meaning large concrete panels have been lifted into place to form the expansion’s walls.

The project, expected to be finished by early 2026, will add two basketball courts — or four volleyball courts — bringing the total number of courts at the facility to eight. The expansion will also include championship court seating, a secondary facility entrance and additional parking.

The Round Rock Sports Center, which opened in January 2014, was originally built with six basketball courts that can be converted into 12 volleyball courts. The Sports Center has hosted numerous notable events, including the USA Judo Senior National Championships, Texas State Taekwondo Championships, and USA Deaf Basketball National Tournament. The addition of two courts will allow the venue to better accommodate demand from local teams and clubs as well as larger regional and national events. The Sports Center has remained open during construction.

The expansion project is part of the City of Round Rock’s $274 million bond package approved by voters in May 2023, which included several other quality of life, recreation and sports projects. The Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, a 60-acre outdoor facility opened in 2017 within Old Settlers Park, will add five more synthetic fields, one natural grass field and collegiate-level press boxes to its current ten-field configuration, with completion expected in 2027.

The Sports Center currently offers 276 hours of playtime weekly but receives requests for 340 hours, while the Multipurpose Complex has 112 hours available and faces requests for 183 hours. These upgrades will not only address unmet demand but also position Round Rock to attract more tournaments for sports like flag football and lacrosse. Once complete, Old Settlers Park and the Multipurpose Complex will boast 27 fields within a quarter mile, making Round Rock a prime destination for large-scale sports events.

Sports tourism remains a strategic focus for Round Rock, which is dubbed the “Sports Capital of Texas.” Approximately $558 million was generated in travel spending last year, resulting in $54.3 million in state and local tax revenues from visitors to Round Rock.

For more information on the Round Rock Sports Center, visit rrsportscenter.com. To learn more about the bond projects, visit roundrocktexas.gov/bond.