Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Work continues at The Pavilion in Fort Dodge, located at the Corridor Plaza. The complex will be opening for business by May.

Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of a multi-part series examining the first-hand benefits of the new Pavilion complex at the Corridor Plaza in Fort Dodge. Here, Pavilion Operator David Lane breaks down what a typical year will look like at the facility.

Projects like The Pavilion have the power to truly change a city — and not just the city itself, but the entire region around it.

Youth sports are growing like crazy, and that growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With more kids getting involved every year, communities need facilities that can keep up — spaces where athletes of all ages and skill levels can play, grow, and even try something brand new.

That’s exactly what The Pavilion is all about.

What’s exciting is that these opportunities don’t just impact Fort Dodge. They ripple out to surrounding communities, too. And local businesses feel it — in a good way. When tournaments roll into town, so do teams, parents, coaches, and fans. They fill our hotels, eat at our restaurants, and stop by our stores. The Pavilion is going to be a game-changer, in more ways than one.

So what does all of this look like in action?

The rhythm of the year really follows the school calendar. Things start rolling in September, as we begin scheduling basketball and volleyball practices for local clubs, with tournaments picking up from October through March. That’s our busiest time, and it’s when The Pavilion will be buzzing with activity.

September and early October are perfect for youth leagues and skills camps, especially for elementary-aged kids. One of the coolest features of The Pavilion is that we can quickly adjust the basketball hoops down to 8 feet, which is a huge plus for younger players who are just learning the game. It helps build confidence and skill at the right pace.

By mid-October, we’ll start seeing weeknights packed with practices and weekends filled up by tournaments. Our basketball tournaments will draw both local and regional teams.

On a typical weekend, we’re aiming to host 35-50 teams per day for local events, and 60-80 for the bigger regional tournaments. That means packed gyms, busy hotels, and local businesses seeing the kind of foot traffic that makes a real difference.

We’re also planning to host several wrestling events throughout the season, giving even more athletes a chance to compete close to home.

Come January, February and March, volleyball joins the lineup. Volleyball tournaments work a little differently — they can’t host quite as many teams in a day — but they bring in the type of crowd that tends to spend more time in the community. It’s a great complement to the basketball-heavy months.

When we move into spring and summer, things don’t slow down. We’ll continue hosting regional and national tournaments for both basketball and wrestling, especially for middle and high school teams. These are often 2- to 3-day events that draw families from across the Midwest — and they bring their spending power with them.

Now, while it would be great to have a tournament every single weekend, that’s not always the case. But that just opens the door for other events. In our other facilities, we’ve hosted craft shows, concerts, MMA showcases, and more.

A lot of these events come to us from outside organizers looking for a venue that can handle a crowd — and we’re happy to provide the space. The Pavilion’s flooring is perfect for youth sports, but also tough enough to handle a wide variety of events.

Additionally, the seating is not permanent and fixed in a certain location. Seating is intended to be adjustable and flexible depending on the specific event happening. This includes folding chairs, benches, and short 2-3 row bleachers that can flip on their backs and be easily wheeled to where the are needed for each event.

Here’s the part I think people will really appreciate: The Pavilion isn’t just for weekend tournaments and big events. We’ve planned for daytime use, too. Think pickleball, walking hours, toddler time, even “Noon Ball” over the lunch hour. You can join with a day pass, a monthly option, or a full-year membership. We’re especially excited about the three dedicated pickleball courts — they’ll be open during the day and often available in the evenings and on weekends, too.

The best part? We haven’t even scratched the surface of what this space can do. Once people get inside and see it for themselves, ideas are going to start flying. Someone will walk through the door and think, “Hey, what if we tried this?” And that idea could turn into an event, a league, a program — something brand new for our community. That’s the beauty of having a space like this. The possibilities are endless.

The Pavilion is set to open next month, with a full slate of programs kicking off by fall. You’ll start seeing updates, announcements, and sneak peeks on our brand-new Facebook page launching in early May. Be sure to give it a follow — and better yet, stop by in person once we’re open to see what all the excitement is about.