Helena forum highlights proposed sporting and events complex

Helena families are already feeling the squeeze of crowded gyms and limited practice space, and supporters of The ARC say that shortage is exactly why a new sporting and events complex belongs in the city’s future. At a public forum Wednesday evening at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds, the Helena Regional Sports Association argued that Helena cannot meet demand for youth sports and larger gatherings with its current facilities.

Kelly Posewitz said the project, which began in 2015 as a plan for a new pool, has grown into a multi-sport and entertainment complex that could host swimming tournaments, concerts, rodeos, soccer games and other regional events. The concept now includes a competitive swimming pool, indoor hardcourts, multi-use turf fields, arena space and event programming, with plans that describe a 12,500-seat arena, a 25-yard by 25-meter competition pool and a recreation or warm pool.

The sales pitch is as much economic as athletic. A consultant report presented around the project estimated visitor spending tied to ARC events could bring more than $26 million a year to the Helena region, support 330 jobs and generate $12.9 million in annual income. Supporters say that kind of traffic would flow most directly to hotels, restaurants and retailers when teams, families and eventgoers stay for tournaments or multi-day gatherings instead of traveling to other cities.

The project’s financing remains a central question. Reporting last year said The ARC could cost up to $120 million and would be paid for through private funding and taxpayer dollars from a bond levy. Under those estimates, a $300,000 home would pay about $184 a year, a $400,000 property about $246 a year and a $600,000 property about $370 a year if voters approved the levy.

The path forward has already changed once. In January 2025, Helena Regional Sports Association said the Lewis and Clark County commissioners had decided the fairgrounds site was not a priority, and the nonprofit said it was looking for a new location while remaining open to downsizing or phasing the build. The group said it had already spent about $200,000 on the project. Earlier plans had centered on the YMCA in Helena and Centennial Park before shifting to the fairgrounds, underscoring how much local politics and site constraints have shaped the project’s future.