JLL Capital Markets to arrange $3 billion financing for sports and entertainment destination in Romulus, Michigan

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2026 –  JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has been engaged by Motown Sports Group Holdings Inc. to serve as exclusive financial intermediary for Motown Sports Village, a 452-acre master-planned sports, entertainment and hospitality destination adjacent to Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

JLL is representing Motown Sports Group Holdings in securing the engagement to arrange project financing, including senior debt, mezzanine and preferred equity. The initial phase involves sourcing $40 million to $50 million in predevelopment and land financing for the $3 billion development.

“Engaging JLL as our exclusive capital advisor is a pivotal milestone for Motown Sports Village,” commented Kenneth W. Bardwell, Chairman and CEO of Motown Sports Group Holdings. “JLL’s platform, its track record in sports and entertainment-anchored mixed-use developments and the depth of its Capital Markets team provides the project the strength and market experience necessary to introduce Motown to institutional capital interests.”

Motown Sports Village, located along Interstate 94 in Romulus, offers easy access to Detroit Metropolitan Airport and sits 20 miles from downtown Detroit and 25 miles from Ann Arbor. The site's location provides access to 2.5 million residents within a 25-mile radius and 8.6 million within 100 miles, while benefiting from visibility to approximately 100,000 vehicles daily on I-94.

The youth sports tourism sector continues to be a thriving market with strong economic fundamentals. The sports tourism sector generated $47.1 billion in direct spending in 2024, with families spending $40 billion on youth sports alone. Youth sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in sports and recreation, driven by increased interest in sports participation and the shift toward club and travel-oriented leagues.

Motown Sports Village offers a comprehensive sports and entertainment experience with a 9,000- to 11,000-seat arena suitable for major tournaments, basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, concerts and family shows. The 1,150,000-square-foot youth sports complex features 12 basketball and volleyball courts, four hockey rinks convertible to indoor soccer fields, a half-mile indoor running track and family entertainment amenities including an arcade, bowling, rock climbing and an IMAX theater. Additional facilities include a 450,000-square-foot indoor water and surf park, outdoor football and soccer fields, a 96-tee golf center and three hotels totaling 2,000 rooms.

"With its location adjacent to Detroit Metropolitan Airport and along the I-94 corridor, Romulus is uniquely positioned to host a project of this magnitude," said Robert A. McCraight, mayor of Romulus. "We are excited by Motown Sports Village's potential to generate thousands of jobs and to establish Romulus as a premier sports and entertainment destination. The city stands ready to support Mr. Bardwell and his team through infrastructure coordination, intergovernmental communication and a fast-track approval process."

JLL’s Debt Advisory team is spearheaded by Senior Managing Director Matthew Schoenfeldt.

JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The group’s in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients, including investment sales and advisory, debt advisory, M&A and corporate finance, loan sales, equity & fund placement, net lease, derivative advisory and energy & infrastructure advisory. JLL Capital Markets has more than 3,000 specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries.

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JLL (NYSE:JLL) is a leading global commercial real estate services and investment management company with annual revenue of $26.1 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 113,000 as of December 31, 2025. For over 200 years, clients have trusted JLL, a Fortune 500® company, to help them confidently buy, build, occupy, manage and invest across a variety of industries and property types, including office, industrial, hotel, multi-family, retail and data center properties. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAY. Powered by rich global datasets and leading technology capabilities, we provide coordinated, end-to-end delivery of real estate services for a broad range of global clients who represent a wide variety of industries. Through LaSalle Investment Management, we invest for clients on a global basis in both private assets and publicly traded real estate securities. For further information, visit jll.com.

Motown Sports Group Holdings, led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth W. Bardwell, has assembled a team of professionals including JLL's Robert Mihelich, Scott Rantala and Almir Omerovic; AECOM Sports' Jim Renne; and Legends Global's Liam Thornton. Construction is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2027 with phased openings beginning in 2029.