The brand-new Fort Bend County Epicenter came to life Saturday through the vibrant Festival of One, organized by the office of Fort Bend County Judge KP George to help introduce the venue to the community.
Nearly 2,500 people attended the inaugural event, which was the first of many festivals to be hosted at the $120 million complex.
“It’s a cool place,” said Alani Odom, 8, a student at Harmony Public Schools. “I loved the two bounce houses and I made a flower.”
“We’ll be coming here a lot, we live in the Sugar Land area, I’m so impressed,” said Alani’s grandmother Rose Odom, a longtime Fort Bend resident. “I’d been reading about it, but I didn’t know what to expect. I was just blown away.”
Construction began two years ago on the 230,000-square-foot, 10,000-seat sports-and-entertainment complex. It boasts six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, indoor event spaces, and an outdoor pavilion.
Saturday’s free, family-friendly funfair featured bouncy houses and food trucks, giveaways, games, performances, and a talent show.
The event coordinators had organized activities catering to all age groups. Interactive stations were set up with opportunities for individuals to undergo blood sugar assessments, sign up for voting, and ensure children received their required immunizations.
“We must have registered 20 people to vote so far,” said Coretta Middleton, who, along with her friend Janet Dawson, was operating a table for Fort Bend County Democratic Party. “I think this sparkling new facility is going to be a boon for this area.”
The facility rests on 52 acres of land at 28505 Southwest Fwy., Rosenberg. The cost of construction was approximately $120 million. The epicenter is a public-private partnership between Fort Bend County and Stonehenge Holdings, which constructed the center and is now leasing the facility back to the county. Once the debt is cleared, the building will become county property.
According to George, the epicenter is expected to generate millions in county revenue over the next decade and catalyze the growth of new businesses in the vicinity. It will be used as an operations center and evacuation emergency shelter during hurricanes, floods and extreme winter weather events.
The Festival of One also emphasized that the Epicenter will be the designated location for important gatherings.
“Now that the doors are open, we’re so excited to show the community what an amazing venue they have now and how accommodating it can be to such a wide range of events from graduations to livestock shows to sports events to concerts, corporate events, and more,” said Toby Wyman, general manager at the Epicenter.
To showcase the culture and community of Fort Bend County to its visitors, the Epicenter has partnered with local vendors such as Williams Smokehouse BBQ & Blues and the local Chick-Fil-A operator who will serve as permanent food providers inside the venue. Beverage operators include Silver Eagle Distributors and PepsiCo’s South Texas Market Group. Other local sponsors include Energy Texas, Southwest Mitsubishi, and GFL, said Wyman.
Upcoming events at the Fort Bend County Epicenter
- Sept. 30 – Oct. 1: Islaimi Arts Festival
- Throughout Oct. 14: ESPN Top Rank Boxing
- Oct. 18: All Elite Wrestling: AEW Dynamite/Rampage
- Dec. 1-3: Hot Wheels Monster Truck Show
