New Braunfels readies Zipp Family Sports Park for June opening

By AI, Created 4:23 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – New Braunfels has approved plans and sponsorship marketing for the 150-acre Zipp Family Sports Park, which is set to celebrate its grand opening June 20. The project brings new sports fields, infrastructure and a long-term economic development play for the city and Central Texas.

Why it matters: - Zipp Family Sports Park is poised to become a major youth sports and tournament hub for Central Texas. - City leaders see the project as a long-term boost for quality of life, tourism and local business activity. - The park’s opening adds a new regional venue for athletics, community events and visitor spending.

What happened: - The City of New Braunfels is preparing to open the 150-acre Zipp Family Sports Park on June 20. - The park is located at Klein Road and FM 1044. - The City entered into an agreement with SportsMan Solutions to market powered-by naming rights opportunities and sponsorship partnerships at the park. - The sponsorship contract followed a formal RFP process. - Three firms submitted proposals. - A five-member selection committee evaluated the proposals. - SportsMan Solutions received the highest overall score. - The City and SportsMan Solutions appointed Ryan Patrick as Community Advancement Advisor for the initiative.

The details: - The park includes four baseball fields, four softball fields and four soccer fields. - The site also includes water, electric, sewer and storm sewer infrastructure. - The development includes detention ponds, sitewide paving and sidewalks. - The idea for a major sports complex in New Braunfels dates to a 2006 sports complex study. - Voter-approved bond funding secured land for the project in 2013. - The Zipp family donated 25 acres to help establish the project. - SpawGlass was selected in 2023 as Construction Manager at Risk for the project. - The New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation has invested nearly $19.5 million into the sports park since 2018 through land acquisition funding, construction support and future operations and maintenance contributions. - SportsMan Solutions is described as a nationally recognized sponsorship and sports facility consulting firm with experience in sports tourism destinations in Texas and across the country. - Ryan Patrick brings experience in partnership development and relationships with businesses in Comal County and across Texas.

Between the lines: - The sponsorship push signals that the City wants the park to generate more than games and tournaments. - The project is being framed as an economic development asset as much as a recreation facility. - The combination of public investment, land donation and sponsorship sales suggests the City is trying to reduce long-term financial pressure while maximizing use of the site.

What’s next: - The City expects more partnership and sponsorship announcements over the next month. - Grand opening attendees will be able to meet with Ryan Patrick and ask about the sponsorship program. - The park will start its public life as the City continues building private partnership support around the facility.

The bottom line: - New Braunfels is turning a long-planned sports complex into a regional attraction, with June 20 set to mark the next step in a project that blends recreation, development and tourism.