Citrus Heights approves deal to move Sunrise sports complex proposal forward

Vitaliy Moskalenko

12 Mar 2026 — 4 min read

A site plan rendering shows the proposed Sunrise Sports Center at Sunrise Mall. Image: The Mettle Shop

The Citrus Heights City Council took the first step Wednesday toward redeveloping the aging Sunrise Mall site, hearing a proposal that could transform part of the property into a large regional sports complex.

The council authorized City Manager Ashley Feeney to enter into an Economic Development and Participation Agreement with The Mettle Shop, a Sacramento-based developer, to construct the Sunrise Sports Center. The proposal envisions a year-round complex on approximately 13.75 acres of the 100-acre mall site, featuring a 160,000-square-foot multi-sport arena and two covered turf fields.

"This opportunity truly is one that is transformational for the city of Citrus Heights," Feeney said during the meeting. He noted the mall’s long-term economic decline and described the sports center as the "catalyst project" necessary to unlock the rest of the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, which includes housing, retail, and hotels.

Footage of Sunrise Mall, captured on Oct. 14, 2024.

The proposed arena would include two NHL-sized ice sheets and a seating bowl accommodating up to 4,000 spectators. The arena is designed to host hockey and figure skating while also allowing conversion for other sports and events, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, futsal, arena soccer, and box lacrosse.

An adjacent 126,000-square-foot covered turf field is planned for soccer, football, and lacrosse, as well as for outdoor concerts with a capacity of 10,000. A second, smaller covered turf field is also proposed.

A concept plan shows the proposed Sunrise Sports Center overlaid on the broader Sunrise Tomorrow vision, illustrating how the sports complex would fit into the larger redevelopment of Sunrise Mall. Image: The Mettle Shop

Joe Wagner, chief executive of The Mettle Shop, told the council that the Sacramento region remains underserved when it comes to ice facilities. He said the region has only two sheets of ice when a market of its size would typically support nine, and he said California has led the nation in hockey participation growth for seven consecutive years.

The project carries an estimated price tag of $120 million. Under the agreement, the developer will raise $60 million in private equity, while the city will facilitate up to $60 million in public bond financing. Feeney clarified that, unlike typical municipal bonds, these would be repaid through the project’s own revenues rather than general fund tax dollars. To protect the public interest, the city will hold a first-priority deed of trust on the site and its improvements as collateral.

An economic impact analysis by SportsEconomics projected the facility would attract 1.29 million annual visits, with 75% of those coming from outside Citrus Heights. This influx is expected to generate $26.2 million in total annual economic output for the city and support 352 full-time equivalent jobs. The city's general fund is projected to see an annual fiscal benefit of approximately $788,000 from sales, lodging, and property taxes.

The meeting drew heavy public participation, including more than 50 written comments. While the majority of speakers expressed enthusiasm for the "wow factor" the project brings to the city, a large contingent voiced concern for Royal Stage Performing Arts, a nonprofit theater currently located in the mall. Theater supporters urged the council to ensure the organization is not displaced by the new construction. City officials noted that the sports center's current footprint does not overlap with the theater's space.

Local residents also raised concerns regarding traffic and noise, particularly on Macy Plaza Drive. Feeney and the development team committed to conducting comprehensive traffic and noise studies as the project moves into the entitlement phase.

The vote drew an emotional reaction from both city staff and council members. Vice Mayor Porsche Middleton recalled the council’s previous refusal to settle for lower-intensity developments like big-box retail or storage facilities on the site. "Never in a million years would I have thought that this is what would come to our table," she said.

Approval of the participation agreement is the first hurdle in a multi-step process. The developer must now complete due diligence and submit a formal entitlement application, which will undergo environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. City officials expressed hope that the final project approvals could be completed by the end of 2026.