Louisville Urban League President and CEO Sadiqa Reynolds’ vision of an innovative sports complex turned economic catalyst in the city’s West End is now a reality in Russell, but the journey to completion was anything but easy.

Despite myriad obstacles, the project’s design and construction team view the facility as a lifetime achievement that brings something transformational to a challenged and underutilized corner of Louisville. And its future economic potential should only climb as the city and nation starts to move out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I think we overbuilt. I think we built something better than we promised,” Reynolds said during a recent interview. “It might be the first project (in the West End) to bring more than was expected. The donors who have invested have said, ‘Oh, I now understand.’”

The Urban League unveiled the $53 million Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center in February on 24 acres at 30th Street and West Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Russell.

The multisport complex has a capacity of more than 5,100 people and is designed to host local, regional and national track meets in combination with additional sporting events, concerts, educational experiences and other programming.  Click here to read more from Business First.