The developer planning a 5,000-seat stadium and an indoor sports facility near Summit Park in Blue Ash has withdrawn their application, citing community feedback. The Blue Ash City Council was scheduled to vote on the project on June 12, but the developer decided to pull the proposal ahead of the vote, according to a city press release.

What did the project include?

The developer stated in a letter to city officials that they had heard the community’s voice and believed it was in everyone’s best interest to reassess the development plans for the remaining undeveloped Summit View PUD property.

The project consisted of two main parts: The Summit and The Fieldhouse. The Summit was planned as a 5,000-seat stadium for sports events, concerts, and other activities. It was designed to serve as a sports center, entertainment venue, and a facility attracting regional and national athletic events. The plan included a hotel with about 170 rooms and up to 200 luxury apartments adjacent to the stadium. Bars and restaurants overlooking the field were also planned, along with a diverse mix of retail stores and services focused on health and wellness. The Fieldhouse was envisioned as an indoor sports facility focused on youth sports. It aimed to be a complex where families could park, relax, dine, and participate in competitions. The developer anticipated that most local events — including youth and adult sports as well as business and community events like conferences, weddings, and corporate gatherings — would take place here.

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Council member opposes the project

Blue Ash City Council member Jeff Capell opposed the project, citing resident concerns. He shared that he had received more feedback on this issue than on any other matter during his more than seven years in office. According to him, there is a strong sentiment that a football stadium is not appropriate for the area.

Capell emphasized that the city has invested $90 million in the park and wants to keep it in excellent condition, preventing any deterioration caused by the stadium. He also raised concerns about the anonymity of the project’s financial backers. During a council meeting in May, the developer confirmed that donors wished to remain anonymous, which raised transparency and accountability questions for Capell given the scale of the investment.

Additionally, Capell highlighted worries about adding 470 new hotel rooms to an already saturated market. Blue Ash currently has around 2,000 hotel rooms, and the project would have significantly increased that number.

Council member Brian Gath mentioned a potential tenant — Moeller High School — but the developer clarified that no formal agreements had been made, and the Archdiocese had not authorized Moeller’s involvement. Gath declined further comment, and city officials refused to comment on the matter.

Local business owners support the investment

Shawn McCoy, owner of Brown Dog Cafe and a longtime advocate for developing the area, expressed support for the project. While he would like to see more parking and additional access points, he feels positively about the plan. The developer assured that traffic studies showed the existing road infrastructure could handle the project’s demands and that parking would be sufficient.

Bob Davis, owner of Firehouse Grill, also believes the new sports complex will increase foot traffic and revitalize the neighborhood. He noted that while the number of hotel rooms might be adjusted, the concept of a youth sports center offering spaces to work, play, and relax is attractive for Blue Ash. Both business owners expressed concern that rejecting the project could discourage other developers, who might see the area as a challenging place to invest.