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Elkhorn Athletic Association (EAA) and First Interstate Bank have entered into a 20-year exclusive naming-rights partnership that brands EAA’s new sports complex in Valley, Nebraska, as First Interstate Bank SportsPlex.
Phase one of the sports complex project, which broke ground in June 2022 and is now complete, consists of six full-size soccer fields, four baseball/softball diamonds, a dedicated barrier-free adaptive sports field, and paved parking lots for over 1,400 vehicles. Phase two, which will include critical infrastructure, permanent storage, and eight additional diamonds for baseball/softball, is slated for completion in 2026.
The First Interstate Bank SportsPlex has already begun hosting practice, games, and tournaments and will be a hub for youth sports in Nebraska as well as a catalyst for economic, tourism, and rural development in West Douglas County.
“This partnership is a natural extension of our long-standing friendship with First Interstate Bank,” said Joe Greco, executive director of EAA. “Our mission at EAA is to holistically develop our youth through sports. We pride ourselves on collaborating with organizations that love and support our mission of serving the community and being ‘For The Kids.’ Since 2015, our organization has grown from around 3,000 kids in five sports to now over 8,500 in nine sports. We look forward to the continued positive impact of this relationship with First Interstate Bank.”
“We took a big swing in purchasing the land for this development a few years ago, to not only account for population growth and our unprecedented growth at EAA, but to also add a first-class sports complex that promises to be a game changer in terms of economic impact for this part of the Omaha metro area. Partnering with First Interstate Bank solidifies our status as a community-driven regional destination for youth and amateur sports. First Interstate uses the mantra ‘Built For You,’ and I couldn’t think of a better way to describe our new sports complex than that,” said Josh Todd, executive director of development at EAA. “We’re excited to have a partner like First Interstate Bank to embark on this journey with us as we look toward the future.”
The partnership agreement makes First Interstate the official bank of Elkhorn Athletics, and the bank will have dedicated areas on-site for branding and displays, as well as involvement in all EAA platforms, sports, and events.
“We’re delighted to team up with EAA to support our kids and our local community,” said Jay Prestipino, First Interstate Bank market president. “We’re strong believers in the power of sports to bring people together, and we’re confident that the First Interstate Bank SportsPlex will play a key role in promoting the social and economic vibrancy of the region.”
“EAA has been a strong partner to Valley and Western Douglas County residents for decades, and I’m thrilled they have joined forces with a partner like First Interstate Bank who invests in our community and its people,” said Valley Mayor Cindy Grove.
The new First Interstate Bank SportsPlex is taking shape on a 260-acre site at 26001 Ida St. in Valley. When complete, the development will consist of EAA’s 120-acre sports complex footprint surrounded by 140 acres of residential and commercial development in a growing part of the Omaha metropolitan area. An estimated 900,000 visitors per year are expected to attend events at the completed complex and generate an estimated annual economic impact of $10 million. More information can be found at ElkhornAthletics.org.