Epic Venue

First Phase of $425-Million Mosaic Quarter Breaks Ground

By Tom Leyde

The construction of Mosaic Quarter, one of Pima County’s largest economic development investments to date, is off and running.

A Nov. 20 groundbreaking ceremony at Kino South Complex, 2343 E. Tournament Way, ushered in the first phase of the $425-million sports and entertainment venue. The initial phase will include the MQ Iceplex, MQ Field House, MQ Central Utility Plant and infrastructure for up to four restaurants.

Pima County acquired the land south of Interstate 10 for the venue in 2014, and entered into a master development partnership agreement with Knott Development in 2021. 

After entering into the agreement, Knott performed substantial pre-development design, financial and economic analysis work. In early 2024, the county’s Board of Supervisors approved the first phase of leases for the Mosaic Quarter. Granite Construction was awarded the civil scope of work for the first phase.

Once completed, Mosaic Quarter Phase 1 is projected to generate $8.3 billion of new local spending in addition to $917.7 million in tax revenue for the State of Arizona, City of Tucson and the Regional Transportation Authority over the course of the 40-year lease.  

Frank Knott, president of Knott Development and CEO of MQ Development, which was formed as a separate entity for the project, developed the vision for the project. It stemmed from his experiences at the Baltimore City Fair, the event in his hometown that celebrates neighborhood comradery and enthusiasm for city living.

Knott said when he first visited Tucson, he found that a gathering place was missing. In meetings with city residents and groups, he noted desires for city living that were also missing.

They included:

• A desire to avoid going to Phoenix for sports and entertainment events.

• A desire for athletic venues that could serve a population of 1 million people.

• A desire for recreational sports leagues in multiple sports for all athletes.

• A desire for participation equality regardless of socio-economic circumstances.

Knott and his team came up with a plan for the Pima County property and went to work presenting it to the board of supervisors.

“It isn’t for the privileged,” Knott said of Mosaic Quarter. “It’s for everyone. I can’t wait to greet you when the doors open in 2027.”

“We are standing at the very beginning of a new chapter,” said Lindsay Knott, executive VP of MQ Development, at the groundbreaking. “It is truly an honor to be part of this journey for this vision, finally, finally coming to life. We cannot wait to see all that unfolds here and I know, like me, you are all filled with excitement of all that is to come.”

“This is a phenomenal project,” said Matt Heinz, board supervisor representing Pima County’s second district, which includes Mosaic Quarter. “We’re going to have hundreds of jobs right here in District 2, to establish the project and also to sustain it.”

He added that the Mosaic Quarter Foundation has pledged $1.5 million annually to assure that children from low-income families will be able to make use of the facility’s programs.

Mosaic Quarter’s Iceplex will be home to the UA’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, as well as youth hockey leagues.

“This is going to have a huge impact, not just for our women’s hockey team, our men’s hockey team, but also all those young people who now get to play hockey here in Tucson,” said University of Arizona Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said, “The Mosaic Quarter will solidify Tucson as a destination for sports, especially youth sports. And Tucson will be able to host regional sports tournaments that will add to our region’s economic impact, supporting jobs and benefitting our small businesses, retail and hospitality industries.”