Spooky Nook Sports begins hosting regular events this weekend

“This project, which embraced its historic Champion Paper roots versus going the easier ‘cookie cutter’ route, gritted its way through a pandemic, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and a collapsed building,” he said. “All the while, it generated enough excitement to lure a Hilton Tapestry to downtown Hamilton, several restaurants which have opened due to anticipated crowds, a robust Airbnb surge, and many local businesses to believe enough to open second storefronts.”

This weekend, Spooky Nook Sports will host two events, the inaugural Winter Adult 3x3 Basketball Classic on Saturday and a Pickleball Party for “picklers” 18 and older on Sunday.

“It is truly a milestone for us to now welcome people of all ages to play and compete on our indoor courts,” said Spooky Nook General Manager Scott Rodgers. “This has been a long time coming, and there is still work to do, but to have the community and athletes from across the region get to experience our complex is really exciting. Starting with our adult recreation events this month and leagues and youth tournaments starting in January, we are ramping up the activity at our facility and cannot wait to see everyone enjoying The Nook Champion Mill.”

The last scheduled event for December is the Jingle Ballers: Adult Co-ed and Reverse Co-ed Volleyball Tournament on Dec. 17. The volleyball tournament will feature will include music and giveaways, and prizes for finalists.

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Moving into January, the sports center will feature the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill and Field Hockey Life Youth Field Hockey Tournament on Jan. 7, and the biggest test to date will be on over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with the MLK Champion Mill Classic Youth Girls Volleyball Tournament. This event is expected to attract between 10,000 to 15,000 visitors to the city.

Though it’s “gratifying” to see the facility opening, Smith said he and his crew at the city “are not stopping to catch our breath.”

“We know we have to adjust quickly to traffic and work through the increased amount of development interest being generated by its completion,” Smith said.

Other events include the Champion Mill Youth Futsal Classic on Feb. 4 and 5., the Shamrock Showdown, a girls’ youth volleyball tournament, on March 18 and 19, and Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill Shootout, a youth basketball tournament, on March 25 and 26.

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dan Bates said while there have been delays and obstacles preventing the 1.2 million-square-foot facility from opening before this year — though parts of the $165 million project began opening earlier this year, such as the Warehouse Hotel and the sections of the Champion Mill Convention Center — “everything is coming together.”

“When it is fully operational, it will not only be what has been promised, as far as a positive impact, but it will far exceed everyone’s expectations, both in the local economy, tourism traffic, and the entire region,” he said.

This is the second Spooky Nook facility. The first opened in Lancaster, Penn., and Bates said that facility opened one piece at a time over several years. The Hamilton Spooky Nook facility has also opened one piece at a time, but over several months, “which is also quite an amazing accomplishment.”

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

SPOOKY NOOK SPORTS CHAMPION MILL SCHEDULE

Schedule of events in the next few months at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill in Hamilton:

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Get an early look at a video that showcases the 28 basketball courts inside the Spooky Nook Sports complex.