BRICK – The 135,000 square-foot Superdome Sports Complex has finally opened at the site of the former Foodtown on Route 70, which had sat empty since 2003 when the 11-acre site was purchased by the township to halt the development of a home improvement store there.
Since then, much has been written about the different proposals and legal wrangling over the property, but in March of 2019, the township gave final approval for the acreage to be split in half.
In 2022, an Aldi grocery store opened in the front of the property, and now the sports complex is in the rear.
The structure features a 70,000 square-foot indoor turf field as well as a separate 22,000 square-foot hardwood floor space, said co-founder Peter Tasca, who operates Brick Superdome Sports LLC in a partnership with a family he used to coach.
Upon entry, there is a large lounge area, and straight ahead, an entryway to the turf field that can be divided in up to six separate spaces. The field will be used to play all turf sports, including football, soccer, baseball, field hockey and lacrosse.
A “floating” hardwood floor – which offers more cushioning and can absorb impact – is on the right side of the complex. The area has color-coded, delineated spaces for four basketball courts, six volleyball courts and 12 pickleball courts. The room can also be divided into smaller spaces by drop-down temporary partitions.
The two enormous ground floor spaces represent the completion of Phase 1, Tasca said.
Phase 2, which includes the second level, should be completed by August and will feature a D1 training center on turf, and on the other side, a large kids area with rubber floors for volleyball, floor hockey, basketball, cheerleading, tumbling, wrestling and more.
The second floor will feature a video arcade and has three party rooms.
Phase 3 is the retail component, and the 12 independently-run storefronts should be filled by the end of the year, he said.
So far, renters include Hackensack Meridian, who will run an urgent care facility; SportsCare Physical Therapy; Subway; Soccer Tots; and possibly a pilates studio and a karate school.
The original plan called for the construction of a dome where the turf field is located, but in August of 2023, the developer announced a revised plan due to township fire code compliance.
“Superdome Sports is the name of the company – we put domes up in facilities because they’re easy to put up, they’re higher, they’re softer…but there can be issues with them,” Tasca said. “But we understood what [the fire bureau’s] issues were.”
In addition to sports, the complex offers camps for kids, clinics, private sports training, leagues, tournaments, and rental space for a variety of club teams, sports activities and fitness classes.
Indoor sports complexes have become popular in New Jersey because they allow for year-round practice, independent of the weather.
The developer has additional New Jersey Superdome Sports facilities in Waldwick, Northvale and Fair Lawn.
In 2022, the township approved a 30-year PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement with the Superdome complex.
PILOT can be calculated in one of two ways: the redeveloper pays a minimum of 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of a project, or a minimum of two percent of the total project costs.
A PILOT program can last 10 to 30 years, and it includes a series of required increases in the amount over the term of the PILOT. Afterwards, it reverts to regular taxation.
As part of the agreement with the township, the Board of Education and Recreation Department will have some complementary and discounted hours from September 10 through June 20, Monday through Friday.
Summer camps are now in session. Tasca said they are booking field rentals, basketball court rentals, party rooms, classes, leagues and tournaments.
For more information call 201 444-7660 or visit brick.superdomesports.com.
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