Construction continues as Bettplex expands facilities, adding a number of new entertainment options. Photo credit to Landon Wiese.

TBK Sports Complex, or the Bettplex, began expanding their facilities in October of 2022 after just four years of business. The project, costing about $75 million, will add another 109 acres to the complex, increasing the total area by more than double what it is currently.

There will be many additions, with some of the highlights including a new Troon golfing site, comparable to Topgolf. The renovations will also include new outdoor fields, an event area for live music and entertainment and more commercial space available for other businesses.

The renovations also include updates to the roads surrounding the Bettplex. Forest Grove Drive and Middle Road have been under construction since February of 2023, and it is projected to end soon, with the final stage having begun on Sept. 25 of 2023. The changes are meant to allow for easier traffic flow by implementing roundabouts, wider lanes and improved lighting.

Residents living near the Bettplex face the risk of more traffic as the expansion attracts more people. “It’s already pretty busy with the traffic each weekend with tournaments. I hope since the complex will now have 2 parts that the traffic will be split up more,” commented junior Landon Wiese, who lives in the area.

The Bettplex provides the Quad Cities with a unique feature. With its variety of entertainment options, there is an obvious appeal to having it. The Bettplex also allows more sports tournaments to be scheduled in the Quad Cities, attracting people from around the Midwest, which helps to support local businesses.

The addition of the outdoor event area also provides the chance for local entertainers to perform, giving them a chance to make a name for themselves.

Residents of the Quad Cities have a lot of hopes for the benefits of the Bettplex. “I’m expecting this expansion to bring in a lot of money with tournaments and people who want to just come and entertain themselves. Benefits for the community will include more entertainment places that people can go to. I’m also expecting there to be more baseball and softball teams that form because now there is more space to practice,” Wiese shared.

Many in the area are excited for the opportunities that the Bettplex will give them that are not currently accessible in the Quad Cities. “Benefits I see coming from the expansion would be more opportunities for recreational activities in different sports and also just allowing for more fun things for people to do around the area,” said sophomore Ethan Chang.

But many people are angry about the addition of the Bettplex and its continued expansion. People have argued that it takes away from the small-town, farm culture that is valued by many locals. 

Just five years ago, the land where the Bettplex is now located was a cornfield. Now, the bright lights and massive structures that make up the complex are visible for miles, taking away from the aesthetics of the surrounding cornfields.

The expansion of the Bettplex provides the Quad Cities with a lot to be excited about as it promises to bring the area a new hotspot for entertainment and many opportunities for local businesses and entertainers. But people still fear the consequences of the expansion regarding the impact it will have on the culture and aesthetics of the Quad Cities.