By Maria DeJong

In December of 2025, Scheels Sports Park Springfield Clinic Dome officially opened with an indoor archery tournament. The entire facility is expected to open this May, including the training and rehabilitation areas for athletes managed by medical professionals. The 70-acre sports park includes eight multipurpose outdoor turf fields, over 2,500 free parking spaces, concession stands and a 27,000 square foot outdoor event space. Not to mention, an indoor synthetic turf field, six basketball courts and 12 volleyball courts, all located inside the world’s largest air-supported inflatable dome. Located at Legacy Pointe off I-55 and I-72, Scheels Sports Park offers numerous athletic opportunities for tournaments, practices and individual training, which is sure to draw in heavy amounts of visitors.

Courtesy of Springfield Clinic

Although the full facility has yet to open, the sports park has already started hiring employees. Lauren Harrison, a current sophomore at Springfield High School, is one of many Senators actively employed at the park. Harrison, a multi-sport student athlete, answered locally-centered questions from both an employee’s perspective and an athlete’s perspective. “For the local economy, it definitely brings a lot of people to nearby businesses since they are all so close. As for the location, I think this area was the best choice to build because there is more room to build and expand businesses. In general, a lot of the customers and visitors have had overwhelmingly positive reactions and are impressed by the facility.”

Harrison’s reports on the benefits of the structure from an athlete’s perspective provide insight into timing and training benefits. “It’s really nice because it’s a lot less of a drive for tournaments. It also has new equipment and a physical therapy section,” Harrison said. When asked about the structure’s comparison to other athletic facilities in Illinois, Harrison describes the dome as “similar because there are lots of courts in a positive environment” and “different because it is significantly larger.” 

The sports dome will provide numerous benefits for local sports teams, ranging from youth club organizations to professional and collegiate teams. Local athletes, parents, families and spectators can be sure to expect big things from the Scheels Sports Park!