Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The structure of Jonesboro’s upcoming sports complex was completed Thursday in a topping out ceremony, and the facility’s new name was revealed.
Formerly known as the Ridge Athletics Center, the facility will now be called the First Community Bank Sportsplex, as First Community Bank entered a 15-year, $4.525 million partnership with the facility.
“One of the many reasons this project is so important is because of what it represents: a commitment to the future. First Community Bank is proud to support that future through a significant investment in this facility and its long-term success,” Allen Williams, executive vice president, regional president for First Community Bank, said during the ceremony. “We look forward to the impact that First Community Bank Sportsplex will have on Jonesboro and the entire community for many years to come.”
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During a topping off ceremony, a building’s final beam is installed, generally signifying the structure’s completion. Those in attendance signed the beam before it was placed, and tours were given of the facility’s interior.
“It’s hard to believe it was just barely a year ago that we were just over here, putting our shovels in the dirt for the first time, and now look at this incredible 200,000 square-foot building that is just inching every day closer to completion,” Craig Rickert, executive director of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission, said.
The 200,000-square-foot complex, to be located on Race Street, will feature gyms to house courts for sports such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. It will also have space for tournaments, large community events, leagues, and more, for which booking is already beginning. It is projected to open in early 2027.
A 50-meter pool with diving boards and a recreational warm-up/cool-down pool will be installed. The center’s second story will have viewing areas for the courts and pool, with 1,245 spectator seats dedicated to the 50-meter pool.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the complex was held in April 2025. Brandon Shrader was named as the facility’s general manager in March.
“It’s a lot of work ahead of us. It is going to be a great impact on this community. We’re going to have many programs, many events, big things to do, right here in Jonesboro,” Shrader said.
Mayor Harold Copenhaver spoke at the event, saying the facility was a symbol of the teamwork it took to build and maintain.
“It serves as a reminder, in sports, no championship is ever won by one player alone. Individual players shine bright, but success, teammates working together, coaches providing guidance, families offering support, and communities believing in a shared vision just like this one,” Copenhaver said. “I am so proud of this milestone.”
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