Construction to Kick Off on $35M Sports Experience

The project is expected to take around two years to complete.

Officials from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will break ground Thursday morning on the $35 million Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience. The project is the attraction’s largest expansion in 40 years. During an interview in July on Inside INdiana Business Television, Museum Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Patchen and Riley Children’s Health President Matthew Cook discussed the potential community and quality-of-life impacts.

The project will cover more than seven acres on land that currently includes parking space. In addition to teaching kids about rules and techniques of sports like basketball, golf, hockey, racing and football, the complex will feature interactive exhibits showing the rich history and contributions of Hoosier athletes. The museum says a University of Michigan study projects the Sports Legends Experience will have a $140 million economic impact over five years once it’s complete.

It will include outdoor experiences, as well as indoor features that will be open year-round. Construction is expected to be complete by Spring Break of 2018.

Find out more about the scope and mission of the project from Patchen and Cook during an interview with Gerry Dick: