The City of Owensboro on Tuesday afternoon officially unveiled the name and logo of its future indoor sports complex: Bluegrass Fieldhouse.
The name was revealed during a ceremony attended by local officials, tourism leaders, and project partners, marking the latest milestone for the facility, which remains on schedule to open later this summer.
Once complete, Bluegrass Fieldhouse will span approximately 88,000 square feet and feature seven full-size basketball courts, which can be converted to 14 volleyball courts and a wide range of other uses, including pickleball, cheerleading, cornhole, and additional indoor sporting events.
During his presentation, City Manager Nate Pagan gave a brief insight into the official name.
“Inspired by iconic homes of collegiate and professional basketball, we are excited to unveil Bluegrass Fieldhouse,” he said.
City of Owensboro Communications and Marketing Manager Shaelie Velez said the name was the result of intentional collaboration and local identity.
“A small group of us got together and talked about what we wanted the building to be called,” Velez said. “Bluegrass is such an iconic word for Kentucky — we’re the Bluegrass State — but it’s also a little wink to Owensboro being the bluegrass music capital of the world.”
She said the term “Fieldhouse” was chosen for its strong association with iconic sports venues.
“It’s just an iconic word for sports facilities,” Velez said. “I’m from Indianapolis — Cambridge Fieldhouse is where the Pacers play — so we went with Bluegrass Fieldhouse.”
Velez said the logo, developed by Oddball Creative, was designed to tie into existing city branding while still standing on its own.
“We wanted it to somewhat match our City branding, but have its own identity,” she said. “They incorporated the bridge a lot, like you see in our City logo, the EDC logo, and the Chamber logo. If you’re in Lexington or Louisville, you’re going to recognize that bridge and immediately know it’s Owensboro.”
She said stars were added as a unique design element that can be incorporated throughout the building.
“We thought the stars would be a fun way to give the building its own identity,” Velez said. “So it doesn’t look exactly like the City logo. It has its own branding piece.”
Assistant City Manager Lelan Hancock said construction progress has been strong in recent weeks.
“The roof deck is going on, the walls are closing in — the envelope of the building is basically coming together,” Hancock said. “Once we finish that part, they’ll begin to move inside and finish the court surfaces, electrical, mechanical, and HVAC.”
He credited favorable weather and contractor performance for keeping the project on schedule.
“Things are moving pretty well,” Hancock said. “The contractors are doing a great job, and Mother Nature is working with us right now.”
Pagan said the project represents a key next step in Owensboro’s long-term sports tourism strategy, expanding a reputation that has largely been built through outdoor venues.
“This is an exciting day as we share the name and the logo for our new indoor sports facility,” Pagan said. “This facility will become a premier destination for sports tourism.”
Pagan noted Owensboro has earned its sports tourism reputation over decades, but said City leaders and partners identified the need for a large indoor venue several years ago to continue that growth year-round.
“This facility is a major improvement and destination to our downtown, an important piece of the puzzle for both economic development and tourism growth as we look toward the future,” he said.
Pagan said thousands of athletes and their families are expected to use the facility annually, supporting local hotels, restaurants, and businesses throughout Owensboro and Daviess County.
The facility will be managed by OVG360, which already oversees the Owensboro Convention Center and Sportscenter. General Manager Jeff Esposito said the new venue builds on years of partnership and proven results.
“We’re here today because something important was built over time, and it’s more than a facility,” Esposito said. “It’s really our track record.”
Esposito said Owensboro’s sports business has steadily grown across multiple disciplines — including basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, football, cornhole, and archery — thanks to consistency and collaboration.
“Our customers have learned that we’re easy to work with,” he said. “Coaches know that problems get solved because the partners work together, and because of that approach, the teams came back. The repeat business tells us something important — it tells us that the foundation is solid.”
He said Bluegrass Fieldhouse allows Owensboro to grow “without changing who we are,” positioning indoor sports as a long-term economic driver through repeat events rather than one-off tournaments.
Visit Owensboro President and CEO Mark Calitri said the facility will serve as what he called an “economic-generating machine” for the community.
“It’s not just a building that’s being built or unveiled,” Calitri said. “You’re going to see that building packed with fans all year long, and that impact is going to be immediate.”
Calitri illustrated the impact by pointing to a single traveling volleyball team — and then multiplying that effect.
“That one team is going to need hotels. They’re going to eat in our restaurants. They’re going to shop. They’re going to explore our attractions,” he said. “Now imagine that multiplied by 70 or 100 teams on one weekend.”
Beyond direct spending, Calitri said sports tourism often serves as a gateway to broader economic development.
“Tourism is the front door to economic development,” he said. “When we have these sports teams here and these families, it exposes them to Owensboro for the very first time.”
City officials said additional announcements related to the Bluegrass Fieldhouse are expected as construction continues toward its anticipated summer opening.
