By Sara Beth Williams–
A proposed partnership between the city of Citrus Heights, The Mettle Shop, and Tallen Capital Partners could bring an 11-acre, 160,000-square-foot sports and entertainment complex, with a 4,000-seat stadium, to the Sunrise Mall property.
City officials said in a press release Friday morning that Tallen Capital Partners, a “well-respected, national markets investor and developer,” is currently in the process of acquiring the Sunrise Mall from majority owner Namdar Realty Group.
As well, the Mettle Shop, a company specializing in developing sports and entertainment venues, wants to acquire the needed land to construct a new state-of-the-art sports center and entertainment complex, which the city said will “serve as a catalyst for sustained activity, growth, and future regional investment.”
If approved and completed, the Sunrise Sports Center would include a 160,000-square-foot facility on roughly 11 acres at the mall property. Plans call for a 4,000-seat multi-use arena capable of hosting sporting events, concerts, and other entertainment, the media release says.
The facility would also feature two NHL-sized ice sheets and multi-use turf fields intended to serve athletes, families, and visitors from across the region.
Joe Wagoner, CEO of The Mettle Shop, said the project aims to create new opportunities for sports and community activity.
The Mettle Shop also has plans to construct a major 410,000-square-foot sports facility in Folsom and submitted project plans to the City of Folsom for the Folsom Ranch Sports Complex in May of 2025.
Citrus Heights officials said in the press release that Tallen Capital Partners “brings a strong portfolio of destination retail centers and mixed-use development expertise to the project.”
Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff described the project as a bold vision for the community.
“The Sunrise Sports Center is a bold new vision for our city,” Lopez-Taff said in the press release. “This planned partnership demonstrates our steadfast commitment to creating a vibrant regional destination that energizes our local economy.”
The proposed sports center would be the first major project to move forward under the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, which was unanimously adopted by the City Council in 2021 after several years of community input and planning.
This is a developing story. Subscribe to The Sentinel for continued updates on the future of Sunrise Mall.
