Proposed facility includes 410,000 square foot facility with 3,000 seat arena, ice hockey rinks, turf fields and more
After being proposed last year, an application has been submitted to the City of Folsom for state of the art sports complex within the Folsom Plan area, south of Highway 50. On Monday, business entity The Metal Shop, officially announced submission of their application for Folsom Ranch Sports Complex, a multi-use recreational facility.
The approximately 410,000-square-foot facility will be located on a nearly 21-acre site in south Folsom. The sports complex will include four components: a 3,000-seat arena with a National Hockey League-size ice sheet, two NHL-sized practice ice sheets, and a covered and lit outdoor turf field,” according to the applicant’s plans.
The facility will be designed to host tournaments, practices, and public recreational activities for ice hockey, figure skating, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, lacrosse, soccer, and many other sports. When not used for sporting events, the facility can accommodate conferences, art installations, family festivals, live music, and other community gatherings.
“We’re thrilled to reach this milestone in bringing a much-needed recreational facility to Folsom and the greater Sacramento region,” said Joe Wagoner, CEO of The Mettle Shop. “The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will not only fill the regional void for ice sports but also provide flexible spaces for a wide range of indoor and outdoor athletic events, from basketball and volleyball to lacrosse and soccer. Our vision is to create a venue that strengthens community bonds through sports, recreation, and entertainment.”
The sports complex will be able to accommodate multiple configurations for various sports and events. The design includes three NHL-size ice sheets, which can be divided into nine youth hockey rinks. When converted, the interior can host up to 24 volleyball courts or 27 youth basketball courts. The outdoor area will include approximately 145,000 square feet of space, including a 126,000-square-foot covered and lit outdoor turf field. Additionally, the facility will offer approximately 20,000 square feet of medical treatment and office space, with a focus on sports rehabilitation.
“We have been eagerly awaiting a formal application for the proposed Folsom Ranch Sports Complex,” said Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino. “A facility of this scale could bring exciting new opportunities for recreation, tourism, entertainment, and economic activity to our city. While the concept still needs to go through the city’s thorough review process, we appreciate the developer’s investment in Folsom and look forward to learning more as the proposal moves forward.”
An early economic impact report projects the sports complex to generate substantial benefits for the city of Folsom, including the creation of hundreds of jobs and an estimated annual economic impact of over $23.7 million from retail, lodging, food and beverage, and entertainment sales. At full capacity, the facility is projected to serve more than 1.3 million visitors per year.
“This project is a game-changer not just for tourism, but for our entire business community,” said Joe Gagliardi, CEO of Choose Folsom, which includes both the Folsom Chamber of Commerce and the Folsom Tourism Bureau. “The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will drive new visitor spending, create jobs, and open doors for local businesses to grow alongside the city’s expanding infrastructure. It reflects the kind of visionary development that supports both economic vitality and quality of life for our residents.”
Currently, Sacramento County is the largest county in the United States without a year-round ice facility, and there are no full ice sheets within a 30-minute drive of the project site. The sports complex aims to address this gap while supporting the growing popularity of ice sports in California.
“Our local sports organizations have long advocated for additional high-quality facilities,” said Rich Francis, president of the Folsom Athletic Association. “The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will dramatically expand opportunities for our youth and adult athletes alike, allowing us to host tournaments and competitions that were previously impossible in our area. Our association represents more than 15,000 young athletes and families through Recreational and Competitive teams, and this facility will only be a net positive.”
According to its company materials, The Mettle Shop team has extensive experience in professional and recreational sports, including managing and operating venues such as Golden1 Center, Sutter Health Park, Oakland Coliseum, and Heart Health Park The project application, including environmental analysis, is will now go under review by the City of Folsom.
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