Fort Bend County EpiCenter reportedly secures ESPN wrestling contract

The Fort Bend County EpiCenter—a multipurpose, 10,000-seat venue in Rosenberg—has apparently secured a contract with ESPN wrestling, according to officials.

This contract was announced by development firm Stonehenge Holdings LLC President Kevin Matocha on March 16 at Fort Bend County Judge KP George’s first quarterly Fort Bend Forward community conversations event.

The forum was held at the Fort Bend University Branch Library in Sugar Land and hosted a panel of the following speakers:

• Carlos Guzman, Fort Bend County economic opportunity and development director;
• Kevin Matocha, president of Stonehenge Holdings LLC;
• Taral Patel, deputy liaison for the White House; and
• Rick Staigle, Fort Bend County first assistant county engineer.

Matocha declined to comment on the details of the contract—such as when it was secured, which ESPN wrestling organization entered the deal, and what might be the potential revenue for the county. However, he did elaborate via email that his statements at the event were related to interest and discussions to secure a date by the parties.

The $120 million EpiCenter project was initiated through a public-private partnership between the county and Stonehenge Holdings LLC in 2021. The venue is on track to complete construction in August.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales, whose jurisdiction includes Rosenberg, Katy and Fulshear, said he was part of the original committee to determine the feasibility and possible uses of the EpiCenter in 2017.

Morales, though he could not go into detail, said the 52-acre venue will take Fort Bend County "to the next level" economically.

“[The EpiCenter] is way ahead of bookings,” Morales said. “They are getting national firms wanting naming rights to the tune of $30 [million] to $50 million.”

The next Fort Bend Forward event is expected to come in June, per a March 17 press release from the county.