‘This new facility will bring people into our community’: Sports center to open in Loves Park

LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — A new sports facility is set to open in Loves Park, with hopes of driving more people to the area.

Elite Sports Center is a 10,000-square-foot facility that was opened by Rockford natives and friends, Darko Gilgorevic and Mike Urena.

“With our kind of passion for sports and our relationships, we just kind of pivoted and kind of linked up with some clubs around here,” said Gilgorevic and Urena.

Loves Park’s Mayor said the need for another athletic space was significant in the city.

Mercy Sports Core out on Riverside is packed, and they just can’t get enough time for people,” said Mayor Greg Jury. “So this is going to make a big difference.”

“This new facility will bring people into our community that’s not in the community to spend money at restaurants and other locations, which helps us with our sales tax,” continued Jury.

Facility owners plan to open another 24,000 square foot athletic center nearby as well.

We’re thrilled that we can give this to the community… I’m very happy seeing people play, and it makes us feel good,” the owners explained.

The center plans to have a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the facility’s grand opening on September 4.