‘Every child deserves an opportunity to play’: $17 million Lincoln volleyball complex set for the November ballot

Lincolnites will vote on a local ballot initiative in November to use turnback tax for the construction of a $17 million volleyball complex.

Nebraska for Volleyball, or N4VB, a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to volleyball for young athletes, and the city of Lincoln partnered on the project, with a hopeful opening date of Fall 2028.

The volleyball complex got approval in May to receive state sales tax incentives through the Sports Arena Facilities Financing Assistance Act. Now, it’ll need Lincoln residents’ support to get that turnback tax. That would allow the city to take a portion of state sales taxes – generated through the project and new development within 600 yards of the facility – and redirect them into the project.

N4VB estimates financing about $12 million of the total construction cost with turnback tax.

“This facility would not be possible without this tool, just based on the cost that it would require for a facility like this,” said Maggie Griffin, the executive director of N4VB and owner of Volleyball Club Nebraska.

The rest of the funding for the construction will come through private funds. N4VB will get those private dollars through a combination of donations and sponsorships, Griffin said.

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the project is an example of Lincoln taking another step in recognizing the city’s preeminent position in volleyball.

“Lincoln is the epicenter of volleyball in America, in the state, and I would dare say the globe,” Gaylor Baird said.

The complex, which will be at 30th Street and Folkways Boulevard in north Lincoln, will feature up to 12 volleyball courts and a classroom space.

“This facility will have a special emphasis on serving kids who may otherwise not have an opportunity to play volleyball,” Griffin said.

Opportunities through the facility will include free and low-cost clinics for elementary and middle schoolers, scholarship-based teams and skill-building programs. N4VB will also offer after-school programs through a partnership with the Malone Center, a local community organization dedicated to combating poverty.

“Being the volleyball capital of the world should mean that every child in Lincoln has a chance to be a part of it, not just the kids and families who can afford it, said John Goodwin, chief executive officer for the Malone Center. “Every child deserves an opportunity to play, compete, build confidence, and be a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Funding for the afterschool programming, scholarships and clinics will not be through the turnback tax, but rather from private dollars raised by the non-profit.

“This isn't just a volleyball project to us; it's an investment in our young people. And when we invest in our young people, we invest in our future,” Goodwin said.

In addition to local programming, N4VB plans to bring outside competition for tournaments.

“N4VB will be able to offset this local impact and generate core operational income by hosting tournaments and leasing court space to area teams,” Griffin said. “This piece is important because the tournaments we'll be able to host are projected to generate millions of dollars for the city's economy each year.”

The complex is estimated to generate over $51 million in total economic impact during the construction phase and the first year of operation, according to Visit Lincoln Sports Director Derek Bombeck.

“In the years to follow, we estimate the annual economic impact anywhere from $20-$25 million, as visitors stay in the Lincoln hotels, eat at the Lincoln restaurants, and experience everything that our great city has to offer,” Bombeck said.