716 Sports Complex breaks ground on 331,000 s/f multi-use facility
Amherst, NY Construction is officially underway on the 716 Sports Complex, a $50 million, 331,000 s/f multi-use sports and entertainment destination designed to give families and the broader community a year-round place to play, compete, train and gather. Located at 330 Maple Rd., the complex will feature two 137,500 s/f air-supported dome structures connected by a two-story entertainment center. While the complex will serve as a premier destination for youth sports, it is also envisioned as a community asset that promotes health and wellness for residents of all ages.
The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase, which just broke ground, includes a national competition-grade turf and field dome and the 57,800 s/f entertainment center. The second dome, which will include a 200-meter indoor track and expanded infield space for long jump, shot put and other throwing events, will follow shortly after, with construction beginning in spring 2027 alongside a planned hotel near the complex.
The first dome will feature:
Competition-grade turf and flexible athletic space capable of accommodating soccer, lacrosse, flag football, rugby, baseball training and other sports.
Six flex sport courts that will support basketball, volleyball, pickleball, wresting, cheerleading, and associated tournaments, with the ability to host as many as six basketball games or 24 pickleball games simultaneously.
A Sports Performance Academy offering personalized athletic training, nutrition and wellness counseling and recovery services for young athletes and community members.
A two-story entertainment center at the center of the complex designed to extend the experience beyond the playing field. Amenities will include locker rooms, retail and restaurant space, duckpin bowling, an arcade, and golf, darts and pickleball simulators.
The project is led by orthopedic surgeons Dr. Brian McGrath and Dr. Marc Fineberg, who set out to create a facility that would address the growing demand for high-quality athletic spaces while also serving as a community hub that promotes active living, health and wellness.
“Our team is committed to creating one of the safest and most innovative places in the U.S. for athletes to practice and play sports, while focusing on advancing the health and wellness of our community,” said Dr. Brian McGrath. “This will be more than a sports complex. It will be a place where athletes can reach their full potential, families can spend time together and where people from across the region can come to experience something really impressive.”
“This project began with the belief that athletes in Western New York deserve access to exceptional facilities close to home,” said Dr. Marc Fineberg. “Having grown up in this community and had the privilege of caring for athletes at the highest levels as a team physician for our professional sports teams, I’ve seen firsthand how the right environment, resources and support can influence an athlete’s development. We want the 716 Sports Complex to bring that same level of commitment to athletes of all ages and abilities right here in Western New York. Our goal is to create a place where athletes can develop their skills, compete at a high level and take the next step toward their goals, while also providing a destination where families and the entire community can come together year-round.”
The complex is being developed through the collaboration of organizations with expertise in design, construction, development and facility operations. LaBella Associates is leading the design efforts; ASATI will manufacture the air-supported dome structures; and KemperSports will manage operations. Advancing Revolutionary Construction (ARC) will serve as construction manager, with ARC president and CEO Frank Ciminelli II also serving as the development partner.
“Sports have a unique way of bringing people together, and that’s what makes this project so exciting,” Ciminelli said. “We’re creating infrastructure that will support the next generation of athletes while giving families and the community a much needed new place to gather, play and experience sports together. Following the completion of the new Highmark Stadium, we are proud to continue investing in the future of sports in Western New York.”
Additional partners project includes Lee & Associates, Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company and Lippes Mathias LLP.