Donations to Odessa’s proposed Sports Complex by Occidental (OXY) and 1PointFive will be announced prior to the Odessa City Council meeting today.
Oxy and 1PointFive’s sponsorship commitments of $500,000 over five years will come from both organizations for $1 million total.
Occidental is an international energy company with assets primarily in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. They are one of the largest oil producers in the U.S., including a leading producer in the Permian and DJ basins, and offshore Gulf of Mexico.
1PointFive is a subsidiary of Oxy and is working to provide numerous decarbonization solutions at scale, including Direct Air Capture and geologic sequestration hubs.
Odessan Larry Bell and his family announced recently a donation of 100 acres to the city so it can build a $50 million sports complex in the Parks Bell Ranch area, north of Faudree Road.
The 80,000-100,000 square foot complex will feature 20 volleyball courts, 10 basketball courts and a track, plus 8-12 multi-purpose fields for soccer, football and lacrosse and up to eight baseball/softball fields.
City officials hope the complex will be paid for by corporate sponsorships and private donations like those to be announced today.
Larry Bell told Odessa’s City Council that it is important to keep the legacy that “our parents and grandparents cared deeply about the community and taught us to give back to where you came from.”
He said his family has built a wonderful life here and that it is important to give back and to “pay it forward.”
The donated land, which is worth an estimated $5 million, is located in the Parks Bell Ranch area. The new facility, which will have room to expand, is expected to cost $50 million.
The city could break ground by the end of August and the facility could be completed within 18 months from that time, City Councilman Mark Matta said.
