The first phase of a huge sports and entertainment district on Tucson’s south side is underway.
Ground has been broken for the two anchor facilities and the utility plant for the future Mosaic Quarter, a 90-acre development near Kino Parkway and Interstate 10.
It is being developed by Mosaic Quarter Development and Knott Development. The $425 million, privately funded, first phase includes:
MQ Iceplex, a 175,000-square-foot arena with three ice rinks for activities such as hockey, figure skating, ice corn hole and ice bumper cars. It will become the home of the University of Arizona men’s club hockey team.
MQ Field House, a 131,000-square-foot indoor sports hub with two floors, each 25 percent larger than the floor of Arizona Stadium, with interchangeable flooring systems for multiple sports uses, such as basketball, soccer, volleyball and pickleball.
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MQ Central Utility Plant, a gas-fed cogeneration facility tied to a solar farm that will produce power and chilled water for use throughout the Mosaic Quarter campus.
“We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey and bring Mosaic Quarter to life,” said Frank Knott, CEO of Mosaic Quarter Development. “This project represents a significant investment in our community and will have a lasting impact on the region’s economy and quality of life.”
At buildout, the project is expected to have three hotels and 10 restaurants with outdoor seating, lounge spaces and a splashpad and playground within the MQ Pavilion. The shaded lawn will have a stage for movies or performing arts productions, open to the public free of charge.
“Mosaic Quarter will be a hub for sports, entertainment and community,” said Lindsay Knott, executive vice president of MQ. “We are committed to creating a space where people can come together to enjoy world-class events and experiences.”
Mosaic Quarter’s offices, Knott Development headquarters and the Mosaic Foundation will also be located on the campus.
In partnership with Pima Community College, Knott Development has donated a 5,000-square-foot space for the school to establish a student-operated and managed restaurant.
The sporting venues will be managed by Edge Sports Global.
This summer, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a 40-year lease with Mosaic Quarter for the project, that is adjacent to the Kino Sports Complex.
The annual rent is about $565,000 and net cash flow from Phase I, over the master ground lease term, is projected to be $2.3 billion, county records show.
The Iceplex, Field House and utility plant are expected to be complete in 2026.