Round Rock City Council to consider purchase of proposed events center site

Round Rock City Council to consider purchase of proposed events center site

By Rob Heidrick Wednesday, 10 June 2009

The Round Rock City Council will discuss plans to buy 43 acres of land near the intersection of Sunrise Road and University Boulevard at its meeting June 11 at city hall, 221 E. Main St. City Manager Jim Nuse said the city’s new special events center could be built on a portion of the property, mostly likely on an existing concrete slab behind the former Cypress Semiconductor plant.

If the council approves the purchase, the city’s next steps would be to conduct land surveys and then solicit architectural designs for the center, Nuse said.

The proposed 60,000 sq. ft. complex could host volleyball, basketball, martial arts and wrestling tournaments, cheer competitions and various other indoor sporting events, Nuse said. The building will be funded by the city’s hotel occupancy tax, which is generated primarily from out-of-town visitors, rather than the general fund.

While a consultant estimated the facility could cost approximately $38 million, the city's preliminary budget estimate for the construction of the events center ranges from $15 million to $20 million. Nuse said the project could be complete within three years.

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