West Side multimillion-dollar sports complex breaks ground in Corpus Christi on Wednesday

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Work is now underway at the corner of Cliff Maus and Old Brownsville Road to turn 46 acres of undeveloped land into a $28-million multi-use sports complex.

This ground breaking for the project marks an important step in a 5-year ordeal to get the facility built.

"We anticipate Phase 1 to be done by the Fall of 2024 and Phase 2 to be completed by the spring of 2025,” said Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo, the project developer and founder and president of Next Sports Company.

Okonkwo is a local pediatrician who is the man behind the project.

City leaders were impressed by his plan and perseverance, and agreed to give him a $1.8 million grant as part of a 5-year incentive agreement.

”He stuck with it," said Type B board president Leah Olivarri. "We thought it was a great project and we were able to put some money in.” 

Mayor Paulette Guajardo stresses that the grant dollars won’t just be handed over.

"There are milestones that have to be reached before any funding is allocated or dispersed,” she said. 

Pct. 3 city councilman Roland Barrera said the project is going to help attract more restaurants and other businesses to this area, plus, bring in a whole lot of tax dollars.

"This area has been undeveloped for decades, and I would venture to say, was probably less than $1,000 that we would get an ad valorem as far as taxes.”

The complex will also feature a soccer stadium that will seat 5,000 people.

The Corpus Christi FC Sharks, will play its home games there.