The City of Greer has taken its first steps toward breaking ground on its new $60 million sports and events complex planned near Highway 14 and Gibbs Shoals Road. 

At its July 22 meeting, the Greer City Council approved a roughly $8 million early work release package that will lay the groundwork for its two-story, more than 200,000-square-foot facility that the city hopes will attract various sporting events to the area. 

The sports complex is expected to include nine basketball courts, 18 volleyball courts, an indoor walking track, a dedicated wrestling room, and a grass field – though some details are yet to be finalized. 

The work approval will include grading, water, wastewater and sewer facilities, curbs and gutters, and asphalt paving, with the work expected to begin August 11. An official ground breaking ceremony is expected late August, according to Deputy City Manager Michael Sell.

No lane additions or additional lights are included in the design. Sell said the work will include a livestream camera set up for people to view its progress. The first phase is expected to be complete around the end of the year.

The guaranteed minimum price for the entire project is expected to come before the council in about two months, Sell said.

According to a feasibility report commissioned by the city, the facility would lose $274,000 in the first year but would expect a positive return of $197,000 by year five. However, the study estimated the facility would generate more than $15 million in overall economic impact by that time. 

The sports complex is part of a $100 million dollar investment called ForGreer, which includes a fire station in the Groce Meadow Road area, a public safety police and fire training facility on Hood Road, and a more than 500-spot parking garage on Depot Street.