Alachua County invites residents to the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the Alachua County Sports & Event Center at Celebration Pointe (4870 Celebration Pointe Ave, Gainesville) on Saturday, June 10, at 11:30 a.m. The event will be followed by an Open House from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Open House is a fun, free, family event that includes touring the facility, appearances by Albert & Alberta and the Gator Cheerleaders, bounce houses, face painting (and other kids’ activities), a DJ, and food trucks. In addition, sports demonstrations and activities are planned (Basketball, Pickleball, Volleyball, and Batting Cages).
The speakers at the Ribbon Cutting include Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman, Alachua County Commission Chair Anna Prizia, State Representative Chuck Clemons, State Senator Keith Perry, Viking Companies Principal Owner Svein Dyrkolbotn, and Alachua County Poet Laureate E. Stanley Richardson.
The 144,000 sq. ft. Alachua County Sports & Events Center was made possible by a public-private partnership between Alachua County and Celebration Pointe Developer, Viking Companies, LLC. Project funding came from Alachua County’s $30 million in Tourist Development Taxes (paid by visitors to the County), Viking’s $3 million, and the State of Florida’s $2.32 million.
“I am particularly proud of the Grand Opening of the Alachua County Sports & Event Center at Celebration Pointe,” commented Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman. “The completion of this project is a testament to the vision of current and past County Commissions. The Grand Opening was the culmination of the hard work of county staff and our partners at Celebration Pointe. This project will generate over $77 million in annual economic activity, over 100,000 hotel room nights, and millions in tax revenues for our community. It will create over 1,000 jobs with annual wages of over $25 million.”
For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or
msexton@alachuacounty.us.
