Starting out with two impressive wins against the #2 ranked Las Cruces baseball team things even got better this weekend. Hobbs has spent an enormous amount of time, effort and money building the various boys baseball, girls softball and 14 and under programs. The city has beautifully improved, lighted and turfed 15 fields/facilities with the goal of inspiring strong programs and making Hobbs the go-to city around West Texas for tournaments. This weekend there are 116 teams in town with the vast majority of them being from Texas. The parking lots of the twelve fields by the high school were an overflow sea of Texas license plates. Around 1,400 players and coaches of those 116 teams sets new records. Not to mention the large numbers of family that are here with them for the weekend. Congratulations to and with much appreciation for the City of Hobbs and Hobbs Schools for doing so much so often for our kids.
With that in mind, the 65 million dollar Center Of Recreation Excellence (CORE) construction is ahead of schedule and will open next spring. If you are not familiar with that program it is a monster indoor sports/recreation/health facility with five aquatic features (including an awesome NCAA rated competition swimming and diving facility), indoor soccer center and many other venues and features. It is designed to be a regional (West Texas/SE NM) world class facility for the use of the public, Hobbs Schools, NMJC and the University of the Southwest. The program is an unheard alliance of public and private entities with funding coming from the City of Hobbs, the Maddox Foundation, Hobbs Schools, NMJC, USW and Lea County. Phase 2 with adjoining outdoor facilities will follow at an undetermined budget. The city is excited about these and another giant step which is a 275 acre sports complex adjacent to Hobbs High that will include such features as a 16 court tennis venue. The clearing of the homes and orchards was just completed this week. Construction is delayed because of the downturn of the oil/gas revenues. Which is also why the state is in such a dire budget crisis especially for schools and colleges. The petroleum industry is rebounding nicely with a ton of new investment taking place so things should improve greatly and quickly.
With that in mind, the 65 million dollar Center Of Recreation Excellence (CORE) construction is ahead of schedule and will open next spring. If you are not familiar with that program it is a monster indoor sports/recreation/health facility with five aquatic features (including an awesome NCAA rated competition swimming and diving facility), indoor soccer center and many other venues and features. It is designed to be a regional (West Texas/SE NM) world class facility for the use of the public, Hobbs Schools, NMJC and the University of the Southwest. The program is an unheard alliance of public and private entities with funding coming from the City of Hobbs, the Maddox Foundation, Hobbs Schools, NMJC, USW and Lea County. Phase 2 with adjoining outdoor facilities will follow at an undetermined budget. The city is excited about these and another giant step which is a 275 acre sports complex adjacent to Hobbs High that will include such features as a 16 court tennis venue. The clearing of the homes and orchards was just completed this week. Construction is delayed because of the downturn of the oil/gas revenues. Which is also why the state is in such a dire budget crisis especially for schools and colleges. The petroleum industry is rebounding nicely with a ton of new investment taking place so things should improve greatly and quickly.
