The recent announcement of significant operational changes at Champions Landing has no doubt led to questions as to the future of the property as well as other ventures tied to it.
This includes the new proposed Emporia Recreation Facility which is set to be housed on the property if local voters were to approve a funding mechanism for the project on a date to be determined in 2025. With that in mind, KVOE News spoke with Rec Center Steering Committee Chair Erren Harter who tells KVOE News no matter what happens to the property it will not alter the committee’s plans at all.
Harter offered those comments to KVOE News Monday morning shortly after it was reported Champions Landing is planning a series of significant operational changes in the new year including an end to traditional golf, a sole focus on disc golf, the closure of the property’s pool, staffing adjustments, the end of cash payments, the immediate discontinuation of season passes and more. In a social media post on the business’s Facebook page this past weekend, owner Jeremy Rusco stated the changes were necessary as the business has struggled over the past 10 months since it was acquired and rebranded by Rusco.
He noted high maintenance costs and low revenues from both traditional golf and the pool as prime examples saying golf revenues were so low that it was making it difficult to support payroll for those responsible for the course’s upkeep and maintenance. Rsuco also says the cost of operating the pool was around $25,000 for 2024 and it only generated around $5,000 in revenue.
The changes were an alternate option for Rusco who was originally planning to close the business as he told staff on December 20. He says plans were to close down operations after the Champions Landing New Year’s Eve party, however, the day after he informed staff of that decision Rusco says he changed his mind, “went back to the drawing board” and developed the previously mentioned changes.
Rusco purchased the former Emporia Country Club back in February and announced the name change to Champions Landing shortly after. The operation opened to the public back in March and has hosted many notable events since that time including the Dynamic Discs Open, Pro Disc Golf Association Masters World Championships and the Turkey Day Dash on Thanksgiving Morning.
Rusco will be joining KVOE’s 7:20 am Newsmaker segment Thursday to further discuss the upcoming changes.
