On June 19, 2018, the Buda City Council adopted a resolution authorizing a Performance Agreement between the Buda Economic Development Corporation (Buda EDC) and Project Ace ownership group, WAMSFTX LLC. The Buda EDC is providing up to $30,000 in incentives that will be utilized to reimburse WAMSFTX for permitting and permit-related fees associated with the construction of the project.
WAMSFTX’s project Sunfield Station will consist of a 30,000 square foot indoor multi-use sports complex and associated sports retail center, all in all the project will be around 60,000 square feet. The complex will primarily focus on indoor volleyball, hence the name Project Ace, but will also include basketball and other sports. The Buda EDC is only incentivizing the sports complex component, currently. WAMSFTX is investing several million dollars in the sports complex and more during all phases of the project.
Buda EDC Board President Jose Montoya said, “A project like this gives the City of Buda an opportunity to expand our tax base, create quality jobs, and provide new recreation opportunities not currently found in our community.”
Sunfield Station which will be located along Main Street and Campo Del Sol, is being developed by Buda- area business individuals who initially came up with the concept in 2015. The Buda EDC had initial meetings with the company in 2015 and then again in 2017 once the project was narrowing down locations.
Ann Miller, Executive Director of the Buda EDC is excited about the project that will be breaking ground in the next few months. “Sunfield Station will provide residents with family and youth sporting options, but also serve as an attraction to bring visitors to our community.”
As part of the agreement, WAMSFTX will employ at least 9 people by the end of 2021. Additionally, the project estimates that each tournament at the facility will bring up to 1,500 visitors to Buda with that number increasing as tournaments grow in size and frequency. Long-range projections indicate the annual visitor count to the facility could exceed 40,000.
When these tournaments include stay-to-play clauses, WAMSFTX agrees to partner with hotels located within the City of Buda and ETJ as the primary hotels for these tournaments. The City of Buda will benefit from the sales tax and hotel occupancy taxes generated by the facility, its tournaments, and visitors.
“Sunfield Station represents a unique economic opportunity for our community. It provides a facility that can be utilized for sporting activities and rented as a community facility for residents and local organizations. It also serves as an attraction which will increase the amount of money flowing into the Buda-area economy. Tournament visitors will spend money at local hotels, restaurants, and shops,” stated Mayor George Haehn.
“Sunfield Station should be open and operating in less than one year and is looking forward to being part of Buda,” stated owner Mike Beltz. Beltz’ vision for the entire Sunfield Station complex is for the retail phase to include businesses that are also sports focused, including a fitness center, sporting equipment store, yoga center, physical therapy and other sports-related medical offices.
