Key Takeaways
- JLL Capital Markets has been engaged as exclusive financial intermediary for Motown Sports Village, a 452-acre destination next to Detroit Metropolitan Airport
- The initial raise targets $40M to $50M in predevelopment and land financing, part of a $3 billion total development budget
- The 1,150,000 sq ft youth sports complex will feature 12 basketball and volleyball courts, four convertible hockey/soccer rinks, and a half-mile indoor running track
- Additional components include a 9,000 to 11,000-seat arena, 450,000 sq ft indoor water and surf park, 96-tee golf center, and 2,000 hotel rooms across three properties
- Construction is targeted for Q1 2027, with phased openings beginning in 2029
Deal Structure and Capital Stack
JLL Capital Markets announced on April 21 that Motown Sports Group Holdings Inc. has engaged the firm as exclusive financial intermediary to arrange project financing for Motown Sports Village. The mandate covers senior debt, mezzanine, and preferred equity across the $3 billion development.
The initial tranche targets $40 million to $50 million in predevelopment and land financing. JLL’s Debt Advisory team is led by Senior Managing Director Matthew Schoenfeldt, with Robert Mihelich, Scott Rantala, and Almir Omerovic also on the transaction.
“JLL’s platform, its track record in sports and entertainment-anchored mixed-use developments and the depth of its Capital Markets team provides the project the strength and market experience necessary to introduce Motown to institutional capital interests,” said Kenneth W. Bardwell, Chairman and CEO of Motown Sports Group Holdings.
Programming Across Youth Sports, Hospitality, and Entertainment
The 452-acre master plan consolidates a broad slate of sports tourism inventory on a single site. The anchor is a 1,150,000-square-foot youth sports complex with 12 basketball and volleyball courts, four ice sheets convertible to indoor soccer fields, and a half-mile indoor running track. Ancillary family entertainment includes an arcade, bowling, rock climbing, and an IMAX theater.
The development also features a 9,000 to 11,000-seat arena sized for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and gymnastics tournaments, along with concerts and family shows. A 450,000-square-foot indoor water and surf park, outdoor football and soccer fields, and a 96-tee golf center round out the sports programming. Three hotels totaling 2,000 rooms anchor the hospitality component.
Location Thesis: Airport Access and Corridor Visibility
The site sits along Interstate 94 in Romulus, adjacent to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, 20 miles from downtown Detroit and 25 miles from Ann Arbor. JLL cites 2.5 million residents within a 25-mile radius and 8.6 million within 100 miles, with approximately 100,000 vehicles passing the site daily on I-94.
Airport-adjacent youth sports complexes have become a more prominent site-selection thesis as operators look to capture both local recurring programming and fly-in tournament traffic in a single footprint.
“With its location adjacent to Detroit Metropolitan Airport and along the I-94 corridor, Romulus is uniquely positioned to host a project of this magnitude,” said Robert A. McCraight, mayor of Romulus. He added that the city will support the project through infrastructure coordination, intergovernmental communication, and a fast-track approval process.
Market Backdrop and Development Team
JLL frames the opportunity against broader sports tourism fundamentals, citing $47.1 billion in direct sports tourism spending in 2024 and $40 billion in family spending on youth sports.
Beyond JLL, the Motown Sports Group Holdings team includes AECOM Sports’ Jim Renne and Legends Global’s Liam Thornton. Construction is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with phased openings starting in 2029.
Scale Places Motown Among Largest Active Youth Sports Developments
The scale and programming mix places Motown Sports Village among the largest youth sports and entertainment developments currently in active capital formation. Execution will depend on the pace of predevelopment capital, the speed of municipal approvals in Romulus, and eventual commitments from tournament operators, hospitality partners, and entertainment tenants as the project moves toward groundbreaking.
Source: JLL Newsroom, April 21, 2026
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