First look inside Mosaic Quarter Sports Complex

For Tucson residents driving Interstate 10 near the Kino exit, the large structure rising on the city’s south side is beginning to look less like a construction site and more like a destination. Mosaic Quarter is taking shape as a regional sports complex that will include an indoor ice center, a field house, event space, local artwork and, eventually, a steady flow of athletes, families and spectators from Tucson and beyond.

The first phase is centered on the 175,000 square foot IcePlex and an indoor field house. The IcePlex is being built with three rinks, while the field house is planned for basketball, volleyball, soccer, pickleball, badminton and other activities. The complex is also designed to accommodate events outside of sports, including concerts. Together, those facilities are intended to give the region a large indoor venue that can operate throughout the year, including during Tucson’s hottest months.

Inside the IcePlex, workers are installing the infrastructure needed to create ice in the desert. Tubes carrying refrigerant are being arranged beneath the future rink floors and will be covered with concrete. The system is designed to chill the surface enough to freeze water into a smooth sheet suitable for championship ice hockey. The three rinks will also feature murals created by local artists. Mosaic Quarter plans to include 11 murals in the first phase, bringing a distinctly Tucson element to a facility built for regional and national events.

The project is the vision of CEO Frank Knott and his family, who have spent years planning the development. A recent ceremony marked the placement of the final beam on the indoor ice center. Family members, project partners and community leaders signed a Mosaic Quarter banner before celebrating the construction milestone. Knott credited the people who worked on the project, saying the final piece of the building’s infrastructure was especially meaningful for them to see in place.

The ceremony also underscored the project’s broader ambitions. Knott said the development was intended to be more than a collection of buildings and that planning included research and outreach to the community. Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott praised the Knott family’s commitment and connected the project to the potential of youth sports to influence children’s lives. Scott described Mosaic Quarter as one of the most important public private partnerships in southern Arizona and across Arizona.

Mosaic Quarter is privately financed, with no taxpayer money being used, according to the project’s coverage. The first phase carries a reported price tag of $425 million, within a larger development described as a billion dollar or multi-billion dollar project. Scott estimated the potential economic impact to the region at more than $12 billion. The construction work has already employed more than 1,000 people, and the complex is expected to create about 100 operating jobs once it is ready to open.

The schedule includes multiple milestones, although the IcePlex timeline has been described differently as construction continues. One report said the IcePlex could be ready to open in the spring, with a first weekend event planned as a community opening ceremony in the arena rink. Organizers expect roughly 4,000 people at that celebration. Another report said substantial work remains on the 175,000 square foot facility and projected completion for early 2027. The field house is expected to follow by summer, when it is planned to begin hosting indoor sports and other events.

Once operating, the IcePlex is expected to serve several types of users. Traveling teams could come to Tucson for tournaments, the University of Arizona could hold events there, and local residents could purchase recreational memberships. The combination of organized competition and public access is intended to make the facility useful beyond occasional major tournaments. The field house would add more options for athletes and community groups, while concerts and other non-sports events could bring additional visitors to the south side.

Knott said the project has remained on schedule and within its budget, attributing that progress to detailed preparation and planning for disruptions. The final beam ceremony offered a visible sign that the main structure is advancing, but the refrigeration systems, rink surfaces, interiors and other construction work still need to be completed before Tucson can use the facilities. For residents who have watched Mosaic Quarter rise beside I-10, the next step will be seeing the complex shift from a construction project into an operating community and regional sports center.