Gulf Shores Moves to Take Over Struggling Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Center, Adding Four Gyms to Recreation Program
The city would pay $633,000 a year on the lease plus about $636,000 in operating costs and nearly $1 million in upgrades. The council takes it up Nov. 10.
GULF SHORES, Ala. — A Gulf Shores public-private project built at the Alabama Gulf Coast Sportsplex could become a purely public venture, as the city moves to take over the popular but financially struggling sports center.
The City Council will consider the takeover at its regular meeting Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. at City Hall.
“There was huge community interest and a lot of activity,” Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs Grant Brown said. “Unfortunately, the original business model did not generate enough revenue to sustain the facility, the expenses and the cost of the financing. Operating expenses consistently exceeded income. The lease obligation to the board could not be met.”
What it would cost
The four-gymnasium complex, with five commercial spaces and outdoor sand volleyball courts, was built to foster a volleyball community in the city. Brown said the Public Park and Recreation Board took on debt and issued bonds of more than $8 million to build it, inspired by resident volleyball enthusiast Shawn Weaver.
“We would rent the facility from the board in an amount equaling the debt service annually, which is $633,000 a year,” Brown said. “Additional capital investment of nearly $1 million would be required to purchase equipment and make some facility improvements to turn it into more of a city-use facility, including purchasing cardio equipment, strength training equipment, installing adjustable basketball backboards.”
Annual operating costs would be about $636,000 for maintenance, insurance, utilities and staffing, he said.
“Shawn built an amazing facility,” Brown said. “We propose assuming the operation of the complex, converting it to a fully owned, city-managed and operated recreation facility. This transition will allow our city to establish this lease, which protects our investment and ensures the uninterrupted access to the facility. It safeguards the ongoing bond repayment schedule. We’re obligated to pay off the note. It was roughly an $8 million note over a 30-year period and fulfill this identified recreation and wellness need.”
Short on gym space
The city’s master plan north of the Intracoastal Waterway calls for more recreation in the growing neighborhoods of northern Gulf Shores, and Brown said the center would help address current needs.
“By integrating the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Center into our rec program, it will address this explosive population growth in north Gulf Shores,” he said. “It provides relief to the overcrowding gym and fitness components to the Bodenhammer Recreation Center. We have nearly 400 children that have signed up to play in our recreation basketball season, and we are extremely short of gym space. This four-gymnasium complex will not completely solve, but mostly solve, our issues related to the city’s use for gymnasium space.”
What it means for Coastal Gateway Park
The main focus for that recreation need had been Coastal Gateway Park on Coastal Gateway Boulevard, formerly County Road 8, about halfway between State Route 59 and the Foley Beach Express. In September 2023, a $17 million plan for two components of the 127-acre park was presented by Ryan Collins of DixHite & Partners, including a competition pool, covered seating, a restroom building, concessions, a signature splash pad and a pavilion. The city’s plans for the park also have included possible space for a fire station and an elementary school.
“We were scheduling to do this in conjunction with Coastal Gateway Park, which added significantly to the expense,” Brown said. “Now with moving this over here – not expected, but an opportunity to relocate it there – it makes Coastal Gateway Park much more viable to happen sooner rather than later. So, there’s a lot of moving parks in here that make this very much a great opportunity that we decided to have the opportunity to take advantage of.”
Part of the property would also be used for a planned north-south connector road between Foley and Gulf Shores, from Brinks Willis Road north to Oak Road East, or County Road 6, on the south.
Current tenants
The five commercial spaces at the center are currently occupied by MVP Fitness, MVMT Pilates and Wellness, Refined Physical Therapy and Performance, Movement Myotherapy Massage and Beach Bumz Café.
