The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club is looking to build a multi-use recreation space to house a strength and conditioning facility, ticket office, welcome center and storage spaces for the Winter Sports Club and the city.

The goal of the project is to update the existing facilities and expand programming available to the Winter Sports Club and other community organizations. The current gym’s capacity is capped at 15 athletes and the new facility hopes to expand that to 100. The Winter Sports Club currently has nearly 1,200 kids who partake in athletics — nearly 50% of Yampa Valley Youth, according to the club.

In total, the facility is expected to be more than 5,000 square feet with the new gym taking up at least 3,000 square feet. The new gym would triple the size of the current Winter Sports Club gym.

The new ticket office is expected to be permanent; while year-round publicly accessible bathrooms would replace the three-seasonal bathrooms. A large event space with a walk-out deck has also been proposed.

While the project is a joint effort between the city and the Winter Sports Club, it is expected to be fully funded by the club.

The project first came to light in 2023 and started with a traffic and parking study and feedback from the Steamboat Springs Youth Hockey Association, Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series, Winter Sports Club and all other community users represented at the Howelsen Park.

To move forward, the Winter Sports Club is asking for the use of public land from the city. Next, the club must submit a comprehensive development plan to the city and a land lease and usage agreement.

Free concerts, nonprofit events and community events; along with fundraisers, bike races and public events are also expected to be held at the facility if it is built.

To view documents related to the project go to https://www.engagesteamboat.net/sswsc-youth-sports-center.