Key Takeaways
- Jacobs Entertainment has secured permits and begun construction on the first four fields of a planned 12-field youth sports complex in downtown Reno.
- The project is built around a six-year development timeline on the former Bonanza Inn site.
- A 10-week travel soccer season is planned for 2026, with the schedule expanding to 12-14 tournament weekends by 2027.
- The first tournament weekend is set for June 5-6, 2026.
- Nevada recently approved lacrosse as an official high school sport, adding to the facility’s multi-sport programming potential.
Four Fields Down, Eight to Go: What’s Being Built
Jacobs Entertainment has secured permits and started construction on the first four fields of a 12-field youth sports complex on the former Bonanza Inn site in downtown Reno. The initial build includes two fields configured for 7-on-7 soccer and two that will handle both 9-on-9 and 7-on-7 formats, as well as youth lacrosse. All four fields will feature perimeter fencing and 20-foot-high nets that can be raised during play for added flexibility.
The project is structured as a phased, six-year build, with future configurations planned to include 11-on-11 full-size fields as the complex grows.
Tournament Infrastructure Anchored by Local Partners
The complex is being developed in coordination with the Downtown Reno Amateur Sports Association (DRASA), J Resort, and Reno Apex. Its location puts it within walking distance of J Resort and next to nonprofit ReDirect Athletics, which positions the site as a practical hub for both traveling teams and local programming.
On the competition side, organizers are targeting a 10-week travel soccer season in 2026, building toward 12-14 tournament weekends annually by 2027. The first event is booked for June 5-6, 2026.
Bonanza Inn Demolition Replaces Renovation Plan
The sports fields are advancing, but plans for the Bonanza Inn structure itself have changed. After completing a cost analysis, Jacobs Entertainment concluded that renovating the existing building is no longer financially viable given current construction costs. The company is now pursuing demolition permits to clear the site for future development. Specific timelines for that next phase have not been announced.
Lacrosse Expansion Adds Depth to Multi-Sport Vision
Nevada’s recent approval of lacrosse as an official high school sport adds a layer of strategic relevance to this build. The fields are already designed to accommodate lacrosse alongside soccer, meaning the complex is positioned to serve a sport that is actively growing its institutional footprint in the state. That dual-sport utility strengthens the case for year-round programming and broadens the facility’s potential draw for regional travel events.
Reno’s Urban Sports Infrastructure Play Takes Shape
The Reno project fits a pattern emerging in several mid-size markets: entertainment and hospitality operators converting underperforming real estate into sports destinations that generate consistent weekend foot traffic. For Jacobs Entertainment, which operates the J Resort nearby, the complex creates a direct pipeline of visiting families and teams. For the city, it adds a competitive asset in the growing youth sports tourism sector without requiring municipal facility ownership. Whether the broader 12-field vision materializes on schedule will depend on construction costs and demand, but the first four fields moving from permit to active build is a meaningful operational milestone.
Source: Reno Youth Sports Fields Project Moves Forward, Construction Owners Editorial Team, March 25, 2026 | Originally reported by 2 News Nevada
image: https://www.sidelinesoccersolutions.com/field-locations
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