Larry Bell, president of Bell Legacy Partners, gifted the City of Odessa $5 million for a new sports complex on Tuesday.
In his statement, Bell cited the example set by the Scharbauer family, whose land donation made the Scharbauer Sports Complex possible. Bell also cited the Ratliff/Hurt family and their financial commitment toward creating Ratliff Stadium, where Odessa High School and Permian High School play sports.
“Think of the impact those two projects have had in supporting the youth and young people in both Ector and Midland Counties for decades. And, by extension, the entire Permian Basin,” Bell wrote.
The proposed sports complex, with a total cost of around $55 million, will include an 80,000- to 100,000-square-foot facility. According to a news release from the City of Odessa in May, the indoor facility will include up to 20 volleyball courts, 10 basketball courts and a 200-meter, banked competition track.
The outdoor components will include eight to 12 multi-purpose fields for soccer, football and lacrosse and up to eight baseball/softball fields.
The land, according to Bell, is approximately 100 acres inside the city limits of Odessa in the Parks Bell Ranch North master-planned community.
