New Era, New Braunfels: Zipp Family Sports Park Set for Grand Opening

NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS — The City of New Braunfels is preparing to celebrate the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Zipp Family Sports Park on June 20, marking a transformational moment for one of the region’s most anticipated recreational developments and the launch of the complex’s official campaign, “New Era, New Braunfels.”

Located at Klein Road and FM 1044, the 150-acre multi-sport complex has already secured a 45-week operating schedule filled with tournaments, league play, and community programming, positioning the facility as a premier destination for youth athletics and regional events throughout Central Texas.

The Texas Department of Transportation AADT currently projects approximately 3.5–4 million annual impressions generated from motorists traveling near the complex. In addition, the facility could attract more than 200,000 onsite visitors during its first year of operations, with over 65% of anticipated attendance expected to originate from within a 35-mile radius of the Comal County DMA. The project is expected to generate significant local/regional visibility while driving ongoing economic activity for local hotels, restaurants, retailers, and surrounding businesses.

“The opening of Zipp Family Sports Park represents a major investment in the quality of life for New Braunfels families and future generations,” said City Manager Robert Camareno. “This park is more than just a place to play sports. It’s an important gathering space for residents, promoting community and healthy living.”

The vision for a major sports complex in New Braunfels dates back nearly two decades to a 2006 sports complex study. Land for the project was first secured through a voter-approved bond initiative in 2013, followed by a 25-acre land donation from the Zipp family, helping establish the foundation for what has become a transformational community investment.

In 2023, SpawGlass was selected by the City as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contractor for the project, advancing the long-envisioned development into the construction phase.

The complex includes four baseball fields, four softball fields, four soccer fields, and extensive supporting infrastructure including water, electric, sewer, storm sewer, detention ponds, sitewide paving, and sidewalks designed to support large-scale tournaments and year-round activity.

The New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (NBEDC) has played a significant role in bringing the project to life. Since 2018, the NBEDC has invested nearly $19.5 million into the sports park through land acquisition funding, construction support, and future operations and maintenance contributions.

City leaders view the project as a long-term investment in both quality of life and economic development, helping position New Braunfels to attract regional tournaments, overnight visitors, and new economic activity that supports local businesses throughout the community.

“Staff is excited to be nearing the opening of the Zipp Family Sports Park,” said Parks Director Ken Wilson. “We aren’t just opening a sports complex we are investing in our youth and families within our community. This facility will allow for competitive athletics with everyday recreation and will play a role in providing a destination that showcases our commitment to quality of life within the City of New Braunfels.”

As the sports park prepares to officially open, the City also entered into an agreement with SportsMan Solutions to oversee powered-by naming rights opportunities and sponsorship partnerships throughout the complex.

SportsMan Solutions is a nationally recognized sponsorship and sports facility consulting firm with extensive experience supporting the development, operations, and partnership strategy of sports tourism destinations throughout Texas and across the country. The company maintains a strong history of working alongside communities similar to New Braunfels.

SportsMan Solutions and the City of New Braunfels have appointed Ryan Patrick as the Community Advancement Advisor for this initiative. Patrick brings extensive experience in partnership development and maintains strong relationships with businesses that have footprints in Comal County and across Texas.

“Zipp Family Sports Park represents years of vision, planning, and collaboration from community leaders, residents, and project partners,” said Patrick. “Early projections anticipate more than 200,000 onsite visitors during the facility’s first year of operations. The excitement surrounding this project is already evident. “There is no ‘build it and they will come’ mantra here. The fact that the complex is already booked 45 weeks annually before the doors have even opened is proof that interest and participation in this type of facility already exist throughout the region.”

Sponsorships will be on a first come-first serve basis. Businesses, corporate sponsors, and foundations interested in sponsorship opportunities and naming rights partnerships at Zipp Family Sports Park are encouraged to contact Ryan Patrick at rpatrick@SportsmanSolutions.com.