Top Stories

Frankenmuth News

Serving Frankenmuth since 1906

Volume 121 ~ No. 11

September 16, 2026

--------------------------

   GROUNDBREAKING IS NEAR! Following years of planning, and finding the right location, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 11:30am, Thursday, October 1 for the start of the Frankenmuth Credit Union Sports Complex, 825 Keystone Street, in the Uptown North Main complex.

FCU Sports Complex groundbreaking

is October 1

  The term Sports Complex has been used to describe several different sports project concepts in Frankenmuth over the past two decades.  Over time, those concepts have evolved into two exciting paths forward that the City (including the DDA & Parks and Recreation) and the Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau have worked on together. These types of complex developments take years of feasibility, planning, design and fundraising and for many communities, they never become a reality.  While the City continues to work on the development of the outdoor sports complex on Weiss Street, they have announced that the groundbreaking of the indoor sports complex is less than a month away.  

  The Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau (FCVB) became actively involved in 2018 taking action towards the vision to develop an indoor complex. It began leading the development of the indoor complex on the north end of town in late 2021 and is committed to be a substantial funder of the facility. The FCVB is a private non-profit organization tied to the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, but governed by its own Board of Directors.  The FCVB is funded by lodging taxes and assessments that are collected from visitors staying in our local lodging facilities.  These assessments and taxes are governed by the State of Michigan and Saginaw County through laws that enable them and direct the allowable use. The FCVB is entrusted with proper use and management of those resources under strict guidelines.  Neither the FCVB nor this project are funded by local property tax dollars.

  While the FCVB helped lead the project from early development, the property and facility will be owned by the Frankenmuth Growth & Development Foundation (FGDF/The Foundation), a 501C3 charitable non-profit.  A couple of years ago, the Foundation established a committee named the Sports and Tourism Alliance (STA).  That group has been actively engaged and meeting nearly every other week for the last two years on the design and construction details including the schedule and budget. As the facility owner, the FGDF is also responsible for management of the facility.  The group is in the process of negotiating a contract with a national company to manage all day-to-day activities including community programming, fitness center memberships, booking and hosting tournaments and providing opportunities for community wellness and gathering of all kinds. 

  “The beautiful thing about this facility being owned by the Foundation is that proceeds from successful operation will be put back into the community through charitable gifts, scholarships and community programs,” said Jamie Furbush, President/CEO of the Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Foundation. 

  The Frankenmuth Credit Union Sports Complex creates a healthy future for our regional communities. A place for people to come together with programming for all generations. . . . .

.....To read this complete story and other featured articles in this week's Frankenmuth News, click on the "Subscribe" tab at the left or call (989-652-3246) to begin receiving your weekly copy of the Frankenmuth News.