Provo, UT — Provo’s 100-acre Epic Regional Sports Park opened in grand fashion on Saturday, September 21 at 10 am featuring 21 multi-use fields, an incoming 45 court Pickleball facility and park amenities. With the completion of the final six fields, Epic is the largest regional sports park in Utah and one of the largest in the Intermountain West.

“The regional sports park was a priority project because it increases our community’s quality of life and its economic strength. It’s not just a win for our local athletes but also a significant boost for local businesses, creating new opportunities and attracting more customers to our community,” said Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. 

“The Epic Sports Park will become a catalyst of visitation and investment in Provo bringing $40 million annually into our regional economy,” said Scott Henderson, Provo City Chief Administrative Officer. “Sports travel tourism is a $45-billion industry in the U.S. and growing each year. By partnering with Explore Utah Valley, we are already attracting significant local and regional tournaments with a bright future ahead.”

Henderson emphasized that in addition to being a project of opportunity, it is also a solution for the unmet local sports demand within Provo. Currently, more than 330 Provo sports teams compete for time on 11 available fields. 

“Our unmet sports programming needs created significant pressure, which would only be magnified as our community continues to grow,” said Doug Robins, Provo City Parks and Recreation Director. “Knowing our neighborhood parks couldn’t accommodate this increasing sports need made this new facility essential.” 

With sports tourism as a driving force, the Epic Sports Park was designed to be family friendly. “Many families have traveled to sports complexes only to experience frustration due to the design of the complex,” said Robins. “Epic focuses on convenience and efficiency by including ample parking adjacent to fields, easy navigation, prominent wayfinding signs, and rotary intersections to keep traffic flowing and reduce congestion.”

According to Robins, the planning has proven successful with tournaments scheduled ahead of the grand opening. “In addition to supporting local sports leagues, three major sports tournaments are already booked for this fall, featuring teams from across the western U.S.,” said Robins. “These events are projected to generate $3.1 million in local spending, including over 6,100 room nights booked at local hotels. Several other sports events are scheduled to begin in April and will continue through the summer and fall of 2025.”

Robins emphasized that Provo’s unique, strategic location at the central ‘crossroads’ in the western U.S., makes it easily accessible from multiple regions. “With its one-of-a-kind amenities and efficient design, Epic is setting a new benchmark for facilities nationwide and fast becoming a premier choice for event organizers.”

Project Facts

• Provo City Parks and Recreation was honored with the prestigious National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2021 from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

• When completed, the Epic Sports Park will have 21 multi-purpose sports fields and 45 Pickleball courts. Operations are set to begin this Saturday on 15 sports fields, while construction progresses on the Pickleball complex and the remaining six fields.

• The Epic Sports Park is designed with flexibility at its core, supporting a wide range of sports, including soccer, lacrosse, football, rugby, ultimate frisbee, and more. Its versatile layout allows multiple events to occur simultaneously without conflict, maximizing the Park’s potential for diverse activities and tournaments.

• By leveraging nearby construction projects, Epic secured 750,000 tons of fill material at no cost, saving the project over $11 million. These excavated materials were both delivered and placed without any expense to the project.

• Techniques and fixtures have been implemented to use water more efficiently and reduce strain on local water supplies. Low-flow toilets, faucets, and urinals were installed to significantly reduce water consumption, utilizing advanced technology to maintain performance while using less water.

• Low-flow toilets, faucets, and urinals have been installed to significantly reduce water consumption. These fixtures use advanced technology to deliver the same performance while using less water.

• Sensors, timing, or dimming systems are used all throughout the park to ensure that lighting is only active when needed, reducing energy use.

• High performance natural turfgrass sod was grown off-site to ensure it reached maturity before installation. This helped in achieving quicker establishment and immediate usability of the turf area. 

• Landscaping techniques focused on drought-tolerant plants and minimal irrigation. This involved selecting native or low-water plants and incorporating efficient irrigation systems specifically designed to conserve water.

• Upon final completion, the Epic Sports Park will have 21 multi-purpose sports fields and a 45 pickleball court complex. Soon to be the largest multi-purpose sports facility in Utah, it will join the Provo Recreation Center, Peaks Ice Arena, Timpanogos Golf Club, and the Covey Center for the Arts as industry leaders in delivering world-class recreation services to the community.