The details
The center spans 230,000 square feet and cost $120 million. Stonehenge LLC oversaw financing and development planning.
The Greater Texas Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation will lease the facility to Fort Bend County. The county will oversee the facility, utilizing rental fees and other revenues to cover lease payments. Following bond repayment by 2050, ownership of the facility will transfer to Fort Bend County, according to The Community Finance Corporation.
Stonehenge LLC initiated construction in February 2022 through a direct private-public partnership with Fort Bend County.
The facility offers a wide range of amenities and plans to host a number of events. The amenities include:
- 6 Basketball courts
- 12 Volleyball courts
- A 10,000-seat arena
- Indoor event spaces
- An outdoor pavilion
One aspect of the facility is its potential to create an impact at the local, regional and national levels, according to Toby Wyman, general manager of the Fort Bend Epicenter.
“We're going to be hosting graduations for Fort Bend [ISD and] Lamar [CISD] for several years. Most students have had to go outside the county to graduate. Now, we'll be able to bring that experience here," Wyman said.
The Houston Volleyball Academy is one of the first tenants of the facility, training there weekly, Wyman said.
Wyman said he plans to host events that demonstrate the facility's versatility, from local school activities to national broadcasts.
“The main priorities from the county was to establish a cooling and heating center for emergency situations like floods or hurricanes,” said Kevin Matocha, founder and CEO of Stonehenge LLC.
The facility can hold as many as 1,500 individuals and is equipped with amenities like concessions and backup power, according to Matocha. This ensures they can offer food, drinks and other necessities during emergencies.
What’s next
Matocha said the inaugural event, set for Aug. 26, is organized by Fort Bend County Judge KP George and other departments. It aims to provide services to kids preparing for school, including vaccinations and health checkups.
According to Wyman, these are the events that are coming to the Epicenter in October:
- ESPN Top Rank boxing match
- All Elite Wrestling: AEW Dynamite/Rampage
- Hot Wheels Monster Truck show
