Nearly 290 acres of athletic fields, courts, and green space are now operating under one umbrella in Dublin as the 2026 fall sports season kicks off.

The Premier Athletic and Recreation Campus, known as PARC, merges the former SportsOhio property with adjacent Darree Fields into a single complex managed by Sports Facilities Companies and led by General Manager Joe Bauserman. Dublin City Council adopted the PARC Vision Framework in April, and fall sports officially began Saturday, Aug. 1.

For athletes at Dublin Coffman, Dublin Jerome, and Dublin Scioto, the timing matters. All three programs open their football seasons Friday, Aug. 21: Coffman travels to Bishop Hartley, Scioto visits Thomas Worthington, and Jerome hosts Westerville South. The Jerome-Coffman rivalry lands Friday, Sept. 4.

Those teams share a community with Dublin Youth Athletics, which sits on the PARC Steering Committee alongside Dublin City Schools, Visit Dublin, the Memorial Tournament, and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. The campus will expand space for DYA programs and adult leagues while keeping local access affordable.

"We're not getting away from what we currently do. We're expanding on our local leagues and programs for the residents," Bauserman told CityScene Columbus in a July 27 profile. "Allowing those things to flourish and grow will allow us to better impact Dublin itself."

Bauserman, a former Ohio State quarterback (2008–2011) and fourth-round MLB draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004, was named GM in January. He brings more than 15 years of experience in facility management and athletics, plus over a decade coaching young athletes individually.

The numbers behind the project are substantial. Dublin acquired approximately 243 acres on the city's west side in October 2024 for $44.6 million. The 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Budget earmarks $3.8 million for SportsOhio this year alone, funding parking lot upgrades, landscaping, and design work for the Strategic Park Plan.

The campus already spans indoor and outdoor soccer, football, baseball, lacrosse, and volleyball fields, plus a year-round driving range, par-3 course, and FootGolf, according to a city announcement when Bauserman was hired. Recent additions include adult basketball and softball leagues, an NFL Flag Football league, and nearly 20 percent more participation in golf camp compared to prior seasons.

Two major events have tested the campus since the city's purchase. The Nike Challenge Cup in April drew hundreds of teams from more than 20 states and Canada, generating an estimated $4–5 million in regional spending. The Ultimate Long Drive competition followed in July.

City Manager Megan O'Callaghan, when Bauserman was announced in January, called SportsOhio an important part of Dublin's recreational landscape and a growing regional destination supporting the city's sports tourism economy.

Improvements already visible on campus include autonomous field-liners, enhanced food and beverage options, public Wi-Fi, and upgraded security. Larger investments will roll out over the next two to five years, with a planned extension of University Boulevard through the West Innovation District intended to improve access.

The Jerome-Coffman showdown arrives Friday, Sept. 4, in Week 3.