Sportsplex at Matthews

With 11 multipurpose athletic fields, a 5,000-seat tournament stadium venue and a major-league-caliber field house, the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews makes local teams feel like professionals — and makes professionals feel right at home. More than a decade in the making, this tournament-ready athletic facility promotes community recreation while stimulating regional tourism. Here, children and professional athletes alike experience the excitement and spectacle of playing at a world-class destination, while spectators look on in comfort and style from numerous ancillary amenities.

The iconic field house at the stadium venue anchors the complex and provides a gateway to the action for athletes as well as spectators. Celebrating the dual nature of sports, the visual language of the field house conjures both competitive and unifying themes. The soaring wing roofs evoke the energy of the competitive spirit, while the axial entry dividing the locker rooms encourages a sense of healthy pregame tension. This entry tunnel provides players and spectators alike with a processional approach to the playing field that echoes the ceremonial nature of sporting events through the ages.

Upstairs, the masses of the building combine in a shared gathering room and outdoor terrace with expansive views of the field. Operable partitions can divide this gathering space into several sections, enabling it to serve as a multipurpose community center and extending its usefulness beyond a purely sporting function.