A billion-dollar sports complex is set to break ground near Lake Allatoona this spring.

The 1,400-acre parcel is under contract, and the permitting and zoning processes are under way.

Despite the hefty price tag and lingering recession, developers think such an expensive project will be a success.

The Lake Point Sporting Community and Town Center could break ground as early as April along 3 miles of Interstate 75 in Bartow County.

That’s near the farm of former Braves manager Bobby Cox who is among several big-name investors in the project.

Phase One will be a 300-acre sports complex, called Dream Parks at Lake Point.

The main tenants are soccer, baseball and lacrosse fields where tournaments are expected to draw 2- to 3-million players, families, and visitors a year.

Development partner Judy Sparks says families attending tournaments are a built-in market that allows the developers to use a "stay and play" concept.

In other words, instead of struggling to entertain the kids between games it’s “where they can come, they can play in their event, and then everything they need from an amenities standpoint is found there on the site and they don’t have to go anywhere else.”

That's because Sparks says 1,100 more acres will include a movie theater, restaurants, shopping and other sports venues, potentially including gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling.

Tags: Lake Allatoona, Bobby Cox, bartow county, Lake Point, Dream Parks, Judy Sparks