Key Takeaways
- A Georgia high school district is moving forward on a $246 million replacement campus, with more than $228 million budgeted for construction alone, per FOX 5 Atlanta.
- Planned athletic amenities at the new North Clayton High School include a three-hole golf course, indoor soccer fields, and dedicated indoor practice space.
- Board member Jessie Goree says SPLOST sales tax revenue, not property taxes, will cover the full cost of the project.
- The district is targeting completion by December 2026 and plans to add aviation mechanic training tied to nearby Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
A Georgia high school is about to become one of the most expensive public school builds in the state. The Clayton County Board of Education, in metro Atlanta just south of the city, is advancing a $246 million plan to demolish North Clayton High School and replace it with a four-story, X-shaped campus featuring a three-hole golf course and indoor soccer fields, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The district plans to fund the project entirely through SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenue and is targeting completion by December 2026.
Inside the $246 Million Price Tag
Per the FOX 5 Atlanta report, more than $228 million of the total budget is earmarked for construction alone. The remainder covers the rest of the project costs for the four-story complex that will rise on the site of the current school.
The funding mechanism matters as much as the number. Jessie Goree, the Clayton County Board of Education member who represents the district where the school sits, told FOX 5, “The money will be coming strictly off of SPLOST dollars, not property tax dollars.” SPLOST is a voter-approved, one-cent sales tax Georgia counties use for capital projects, which means the facility is being built without a direct hit to local property tax bills.
Goree also acknowledged to FOX 5 that the final cost came in well above what the board originally expected.
A Golf Course and Indoor Soccer Fields on a Public School Campus
The athletic program is the headline feature of the new build. Plans call for a three-hole golf course on campus, indoor soccer fields, and indoor practice facilities for the school’s athletic teams, per the report.
For operators and vendors in the youth sports industry, the project is another data point in a pattern worth tracking: public school districts functioning as major athletic facility developers. A quarter-billion-dollar campus with golf and indoor soccer infrastructure puts a single Georgia high school in the same facility conversation as many privately financed youth sports complexes.
Beyond athletics, the district intends to launch aviation mechanic training at the school, a program designed around its proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to FOX 5.
Why Is Clayton County Replacing North Clayton High School?
The current building is failing. Goree described HVAC breakdowns and roof leaks severe enough that buckets line the hallways on rainy days, per FOX 5. Board members characterized the replacement as long overdue, and Goree told the station her priority is putting children first regardless of the price tag.
That framing positions the project as a necessity purchase rather than a discretionary amenity play, even with the golf course attached. The deteriorating facility, not the athletic upgrades, is the stated driver of the spend.
One Permitting Snag Down, 14 Months to a December 2026 Opening
Construction plans are already in motion despite a recent permitting snag, per the FOX 5 report, and the board’s goal is to have the new campus complete by December 2026.
The high school is one piece of a broader capital push in the district. Clayton County also plans to open a new middle school in Forest Park, scheduled to come online at the end of the month, according to FOX 5.
For an industry watching where facility dollars come from, the Clayton County model is worth noting: sales tax-backed bonds financing youth athletic infrastructure at public scale. The next test is execution, and the clock is set. The district has given itself until December 2026 to turn a leaking building into a $246 million campus with a golf course on the grounds.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Rob DiRienzo, October 15, 2025, https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/clayton-county-advances-plan-build-246-million-high-school-golf-course
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How big is the youth sports market?
American families spend approximately $54 billion annually on kids’ sports and recreation, according to the YSBR and Kinetica Group Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, with organized sports alone representing a $40 billion-plus market. The average family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46 percent since 2019, per the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, and market research projects the global youth sports market will reach approximately $114 billion by 2032 (Business Research Insights).
How many kids play youth sports in the United States?
Approximately 27.3 million children ages 6 to 17, or about 54.6 percent, played organized sports in 2022-2023, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health as reported by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. High school sports participation reached a record 8.26 million athletes in 2024-25, per the NFHS.
Who founded Youth Sports Business Report?
Youth Sports Business Report was founded by Cameron Korab, a sports marketing veteran with more than a decade in the industry and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Korab also co-founded Vertical Sports, a sports marketing advisory serving brands across youth, college, and pro sports.
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Hosted by Cameron Korab, founder of Youth Sports Business Report, Jr. Sports Marketing features candid 1-on-1 conversations with the brands, athletes, leagues, and innovators building the future of youth sports. Each episode breaks down how the smartest brands are activating, building equity, and winning with youth sports families. If you’re an operator, founder, investor, or marketer trying to understand where this space is headed, this is your show.
Youth Sports Marketing Questions, Answered
Where can brands sponsor youth sports? Brands can sponsor youth sports through local leagues and clubs, tournaments and events, facilities and complexes, governing bodies, and national platform programs. Sponsoring a child’s own program is the most powerful entry point: 81 percent of parents say it captures their attention, outperforming TV, social media, and pro sports sponsorship, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study conducted by YouGov Sport.
How much does youth sports sponsorship cost? Youth sports sponsorship costs range from a few thousand dollars for a local league or team sponsorship to six and seven figures for regional facility naming rights and national platform programs. The environment is welcoming at every level: 84 percent of parents hold net positive sentiment toward brands sponsoring youth sports, with negative sentiment under 5 percent, per YouGov Sport research. Most brands start with a pilot activation, measure engagement, then scale.
What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? The data is striking: 80 percent of parents say they would choose the brand that sponsors their child’s youth sports program when comparing two similar products, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study by YouGov Sport. A 2026 EMARKETER and DICK’S Media survey found 84 percent of sports parents say that role influences their purchase decisions, and 60 percent spend more on game and practice days, driving loyalty across categories from dining to travel to automotive.
Ready to build a youth sports strategy? Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level. Brands and youth sports organizations can reach the team at info@verticalsports.us.
