Several cities around Austin are currently considering building sports arenas or convention centers.

KVUE News

About 10 years ago, it was a real gamble for the city to consider building a sports park and events center east of town on Highway 79. Now, as Round Rock continues to grow, city leaders seem ready to take another swing at the idea.

The Round Rock City Council Thursday night got a report that may bring about a new multi-million dollar project. Currently the only conference meeting space is at the Dell Diamond. When the Heritage Conference Center at the Dell Diamond opened, in 2000, it became the largest indoor meeting space in Round Rock.

“We really didn’t now what we needed for this community, it was a shot in the dark,” said Reid Ryan.

Ryan and his family manage the Dell Diamond and the Heritage Center. He says the small 5,000 square foot building has more than proven its worth.

“In hind sight it would have been great to have this facility twice the size, maybe three times the size.

According to a study by the research group Economic Research Associates, the city is ready to take the next step. Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Nancy Yawn agrees.

“We know our community is growing and the needs change as we have grown and we’ve been hearing it from our citizens,” she said.

The $70,000 study considered five different designs. From theaters to large arenas, the idea was to build on the city’s sports capital marketing campaign, according to Yawn.

“And they came back thinking the Special Events center; a very flexible, multi-purpose multi use facility would be the best to accommodate us.”

The goal is to not only attract regional sporting events, but small conventions, even school graduations. If built, it would be a 50,000 square foot structure, costing about $12 million to $18 million. That would make it a little smaller than the new Palmer Events Center in Downtown Austin.

Construction costs would be split with a private group. The Ryan’s have first crack are being the city’s partner.

“If it works out, wed love to run it, but it would have to be the right deal for us,” said Reid Ryan.

Now that the city knows what it should build comes the next step. Will it build? And with who? That decision making process is expected to being in February.