Anyone who is a parent or coach of a local athlete may have noticed the recent closure of the Sport Center 481 facility in DeWitt.

The 75,000-square foot facility closed in April and was known as the largest indoor facility in Central New York. It was used by thousands of teens and adults for sports like soccer, lacrosse and baseball. Now that the facility has closed, players, coaches and parents are looking for more options.

Sport Center 481 closed in April and the building was sold in June for nearly $4 million. Jim Smith, founder of JHS Management in Syracuse, confirmed his company sold the building to Sports and Fitness LLC in June. There's no word on what that company is planning to use the building for.

Smith said he plans to open a smaller 24,000-square foot indoor facility in close proximity to Sport Center 481 as early as September. He is currently awaiting approval from the town of DeWitt and expects to have new information in the next few weeks.

Vittorio Pascarella of Pascarella Development continues to work on a mixed use facility which will include apartments and a restaurant at the old candle factory site on Buckley and Old Liverpool Road in Salina. While that project is expected to be complete by next year, Pascarella said his family is hoping to open a new sports facility on that 13-acre property if all goes as planned.

He plans to open a 33,000-square foot indoor sports facility in a former warehouse on the property, relying on approvals and viability.

One soccer club impacted by this is the Northeast Rush Soccer Club, which includes more than 500 kids in the Syracuse area. The organization used Sport Center 481 frequently, especially during the winter for games and practices. CEO and coach Craig Thomas is hopeful the site on Pascarella's property will get the green light so his teams can begin playing there in the coming months.

Thomas and some of his players say they were disappointed to see Sport Center 481 close, but they're happy to hear about the possibility of new options soon.

"I like the idea of playing in a new facility. I think it's going to be good for us, especially because it's like our facility so we kind of have more access to it," said Rush player Dominic Mancari.

"For six months of the year, you are inside, so having indoor facilities is paramount to this area. So the closure of 481 was disappointing, but I think there's a new chapter coming with those facilities coming down the line including ourselves. And we're excited to be able to provide opportunities to our players to go and play soccer and other sports in the facilities," said Thomas.

If approved, Thomas said the Salina site will include three turf fields which he said will be great for his club. He's optimistic the Rush will be able to move in to play by November, but it depends on site approval.

Other indoor facilities expected to get more use in part to 481's closure include the Syracuse Indoor Sports Center on Hopkins Road in Liverpool and the CNY Family Sports Centre on Jones Road in Baldwinsville.

Both Pine Grove in Camillus and Ultimate Goal in Marcellus are also popular options, particularly during the winter months.