Sandhills Global Lincoln Youth Complex reports heavy first-year use; organizers point to tourism and youth programs
December 20, 2025 | Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
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Visit Lincoln and Sandhills Global Youth Complex leaders told the West Haymarket Joint Public Agency at its December meeting that the newly opened complex far exceeded first-year expectations.
“From an operational standpoint for year 1, if we had to use one word, it would be incredible,” said Joe Fegler, facility director, who reported the complex ran more than 3,200 games and practices in 2025 and had about 31 rainouts.
Jeff Mall, executive director of Visit Lincoln and vice chair of the complex board, said organizers estimate roughly 120,000 people passed through the gates in the first year and that teams from 24 states attended tournaments. “It’s been a great investment,” Mall said, thanking the JPA for its support.
Organizers said the facility employed 66 people (five full-time, 61 part-time), offered more than 700 free baseball and softball clinics and has heavy advance bookings for 2026, with weekend dates largely full. Fegler said the complex hosted 32 weekend tournaments and ran extended weeknight programming to keep fields in constant use.
Presenters described partnerships with community organizations to boost access, including Community Learning Centers and the Malone Center, and said they are exploring better ways to capture economic impact data. “There’s QR code technology out there that when you walk into a restaurant ... you click the QR code, we capture the data,” a Visit Lincoln speaker said, noting the organizers plan to track hotel occupancy and tax returns to quantify economic returns next year.
Regent Tim Clare asked for follow-up data to document returns to occupation and sales taxes. City and JPA staff said they are already tracking some measures and expect stronger month-over-month indicators in mid-2026 when more events overlap regional attractions like the College World Series in Omaha.
The presentation concluded with applause from board members; no formal action was required.
“From an operational standpoint for year 1, if we had to use one word, it would be incredible,” said Joe Fegler, facility director, who reported the complex ran more than 3,200 games and practices in 2025 and had about 31 rainouts.
Jeff Mall, executive director of Visit Lincoln and vice chair of the complex board, said organizers estimate roughly 120,000 people passed through the gates in the first year and that teams from 24 states attended tournaments. “It’s been a great investment,” Mall said, thanking the JPA for its support.
Organizers said the facility employed 66 people (five full-time, 61 part-time), offered more than 700 free baseball and softball clinics and has heavy advance bookings for 2026, with weekend dates largely full. Fegler said the complex hosted 32 weekend tournaments and ran extended weeknight programming to keep fields in constant use.
Presenters described partnerships with community organizations to boost access, including Community Learning Centers and the Malone Center, and said they are exploring better ways to capture economic impact data. “There’s QR code technology out there that when you walk into a restaurant ... you click the QR code, we capture the data,” a Visit Lincoln speaker said, noting the organizers plan to track hotel occupancy and tax returns to quantify economic returns next year.
Regent Tim Clare asked for follow-up data to document returns to occupation and sales taxes. City and JPA staff said they are already tracking some measures and expect stronger month-over-month indicators in mid-2026 when more events overlap regional attractions like the College World Series in Omaha.
The presentation concluded with applause from board members; no formal action was required.
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