Proposed 4,000-seat sports and entertainment complex could anchor major transformation of aging retail center
A large sports and entertainment complex once proposed for land south of Prairie City Road near Folsom Ranch is now being planned as part of a major redevelopment effort at the aging Sunrise Mall property in Citrus Heights.
The project, originally explored for roughly 18 acres on the northwest corner of Prairie City Road near the Folsom Ranch development, is now being advanced under a proposed partnership between the city of Citrus Heights, development firm The Mettle Shop and Tallen Capital Partners. The proposal would bring a new regional sports complex to the Sunrise Mall property, a site that has long been targeted for redevelopment as retail occupancy has declined in recent years.
“While we are disappointed the project will not be moving forward in Folsom, we respect their decision and wish them success,” said Christine Brainerd, Communications Director for the City of Folsom. “The city of Folsom remains committed to supporting high-quality recreation opportunities for our residents and continuing to strengthen our local economy.”
Under the new proposal, The Mettle Shop and Tallen Capital Partners plan to acquire a portion of the mall property currently owned by Namdar Realty Group and construct a 160,000-square-foot sports and entertainment complex on approximately 11 acres of the site.
The development, known as the Sunrise Sports Center, would be anchored by a 4,000-seat multi-use arena capable of hosting sporting events, e-sports competitions, concerts and other large-scale entertainment events.
Plans for the complex also include two NHL-sized ice sheets, a 126,000-square-foot covered turf field designed for multi-sport training and tournaments, and additional outdoor turf space. The facility would also include a bar and restaurant overlooking the indoor ice sheet, creating an additional gathering and viewing space for spectators and visitors.
Developers say the complex is designed to operate year-round and could host tournaments, leagues, practices, recreational activities, concerts and conferences.
The sports center is envisioned as a regional destination supporting a wide range of athletic programs and community events. Among the activities proposed for the facility are ice hockey, figure skating, curling, public skating, synchronized ice dance, adaptive ice sports, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, youth baseball, adult baseball training, softball, football, flag football and youth cricket.
The Mettle Shop, whose leadership team includes executives with experience connected to organizations such as Sacramento Republic FC, Golden 1 Center, Sutter Health Park and the Oakland Coliseum, says the facility is designed to serve both professional and community-level sports programming. The company’s leadership team also includes Joe Wagoner, a co-founder of Sacramento Republic FC, bringing professional sports venue experience to the project.
“We believe that sports have the power to strengthen and enrich communities, and we are genuinely excited to collaborate with Citrus Heights and Tallen Capital Partners to bring these opportunities to life through the Sunrise Sports Center,” said Joe Wagoner, CEO of The Mettle Shop, in a statement. “This development will create new avenues for regional entertainment, ice sports that will include hockey, arena events, concerts, recreation, wellness, and community engagement.”
City officials said in a press release that Tallen Capital Partners, described as a “well-respected, national markets investor and developer,” is currently in the process of acquiring a large portion of the Sunrise Mall property from majority owner Namdar Realty Group. The San Diego-based firm is reportedly in escrow to purchase roughly 50 acres of the mall site, with the sports complex expected to serve as a major anchor for a broader redevelopment vision.
The sports complex is planned for the northern portion of the Sunrise Mall property near Greenback Lane and is expected to act as a centerpiece for the site’s broader transformation.
That redevelopment could ultimately include restaurants, entertainment venues and residential housing surrounding the sports complex, with early concepts calling for between 250 and 350 apartments as part of a mixed-use district around the mall site. Developers estimate the full redevelopment of the mall property could reach approximately $400 million as additional phases of housing, entertainment and commercial uses are built around the project.
If approved, the sports complex would be among the first major projects implemented under the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, a long-term redevelopment framework for the mall property that was unanimously adopted by the Citrus Heights City Council in 2021 after several years of public planning.
The plan envisions transforming the long-struggling mall property into a vibrant mixed-use regional destination featuring retail, residential housing, office space, entertainment venues, hospitality uses and public gathering spaces.
In April 2025, the Citrus Heights City Council rejected a proposal from real estate investor Ethan Conrad that would have modified the redevelopment plan to allow additional large retail tenants at the site.
Citrus Heights Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff voiced strong support for the sports complex proposal as part of the city’s effort to reinvigorate the aging mall property.
“The Sunrise Sports Center is a bold new vision for our city,” Lopez-Taff said. “This planned partnership demonstrates our steadfast commitment to creating a vibrant regional destination that energizes our local economy.”
Developers estimate the project could generate approximately 352 full-time jobs and $26.2 million in annual economic output while attracting an estimated 1.29 million visits annually to the area.
According to developers, projects of this scale typically cost between $125 million and $150 million to construct. If approvals move forward as anticipated, developers say construction could begin as early as this year with a projected build timeline of approximately 12 to 15 months. Under that schedule, the facility could begin hosting events as early as 2028.
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