LET’S STOP COMPARING RUSTON SPORTS COMPLEX WITH PROPOSED CADDO COMPLEX

It’s time for all those who have jumped on the proposed Caddo sports complex bandwagon to take off the rose-tinted glasses when hyping the impact of the very successful Ruston sports complex versus the potential impact of the Caddo complex.
 
Not to get too deep into the weeds in this column, but the comparison between the two is like that of a whale (Ruston) and a minnow (Caddo).
 
Here are FACTS on the Ruston complex:
 
1. Located on a 185-acre site
 
2. Features 15 artificial turf fields for baseball and softball and 3 grass multiuse fields for soccer and football
 
3. Has 9 tennis courts
 
4. Includes a 6-acre stocked fishing pond, walking and biking trails, and 3 covered playgrounds
 
5. Amenities include full-service concessions, charging stations and 10 full-service RV slots
 
6. Indoor 62,470 square feet space equipped with 6 basketball courts, 8 volleyball courts or up to 15 pickleball courts
 
7. Event space of 4000 square feet multipurpose room suitable for cheer competitions, trade shows, and corporate events with smaller meeting rooms.
 
The proposed Caddo complex does NOT include baseball and softball fields. The newly opened Caddo Parish Premier Park has 8 artificial turf baseball/softball fields.
 
The proposed Caddo complex does NOT include multiple fields for soccer and football, nor does it have tennis courts.
 
Shreveport’s Cargill Park has 5 soccer fields (two are artificial turf), 8 softball fields and a BMX track. Shreveport has the Independence Stadium for football with artificial turf. Shreveport has Querbes Tennis courts.
 
The planned Caddo pickleball complex will have 19 outdoor pickleball courts.
 
To say the least the proposed Caddo sports complex should not be compared with the Ruston complex in terms of economic impact.