Paragon Star Sports Complex in Lee’s Summit, Missouri has been named the 2025 Distinguished Facility Award winner for Outstanding Multi-Field Facility by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA). This prestigious national recognition honors sports facilities that exemplify best-in-class design, engineering, construction quality, safety, and performance.
The award places Paragon Star among the top sports complexes in the country and reinforces its position as a premier destination for competitive soccer and large-scale sporting events.
A National Award for Excellence in Sports Facility Design
Presented annually by ASBA, the Distinguished Facility Awards recognize projects built by ASBA members that demonstrate superior craftsmanship, innovation, and attention to athlete and spectator experience. Facilities are evaluated on a range of criteria, including layout and design, site work, drainage, base construction, surface performance, amenities, innovation, and overall impression.
Paragon Star was selected in the Multi-Field Facility category, a highly competitive division recognizing complexes with multiple fields that meet the highest national standards.
Built for Performance, Safety, and Flexibility
Paragon Star features 10 FIFA-certified AstroTurf synthetic turf soccer fields, designed to deliver elite-level playability while prioritizing athlete safety and durability. Each field is installed with the Brock Safety System, which includes:
- A high-performance shock pad designed to reduce impact-related injuries
- 100% organic BrockFILL infill, engineered to reduce field surface temperatures by up to 50 degrees
- Consistent traction and playability similar to natural grass
The complex also incorporates custom-painted field markings, allowing Paragon Star to adapt field layouts for multiple sports and event formats without the limitations of permanent lines.
Additional facility highlights include:
- Advanced Musco sports lighting for optimal visibility and energy efficiency
- Extra-wide concrete pedestrian zones for improved crowd flow and safety
- Modern fencing and video scoreboards
- A championship field featuring seating for 1,200 spectators and a dedicated press box
A Commitment to a Best-in-Class Vision
“We promised the local community and the area’s stakeholders that we would develop, build, and operate a best-in-class sports facility,” said Flip Short, Founder and CEO of Paragon Star. “In delivering on that promise, we assembled an outstanding design and construction team to create the sports and entertainment complex at Paragon Star. That investment in the team and in the product is providing and will continue to provide dividends far into the future. We are extremely appreciative of the recognition of our efforts by the ASBA.”
Industry partners echoed that sentiment.
“The owners of Paragon Star set the bar high from the beginning, seeking FIFA certification and specifying a turf system with exceptionally tight performance tolerances,” said Dan Sawyer, Founder and CEO of Brock USA. “Brock USA was able to meet and exceed these demands with its two key safety components — the shock pad to minimize risk related to field impacts and the 100% organic infill to reduce field temperatures and provide a playability much closer to natural grass.”
A Showcase of Collaboration and Craftsmanship
Completed in 2022, Paragon Star is the result of close collaboration among industry-leading firms:
- Design: LAND3 Studio
- Builder: Mid-America Sports Construction
- Turf: LigaTurf by AstroTurf
- Infill: BrockFILL by Brock USA
- Performance Pad/Base: Brock ShockPad Series 17XL
- Sports Lighting: Musco Lighting
Transforming the site into a world-class sports destination required significant engineering expertise. The property, originally wetlands, required coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the importation of more than 90,000 cubic yards of subgrade material, and the relocation of approximately 450,000 cubic yards of onsite soil to elevate the complex above the 100-year floodplain.
About the American Sports Builders Association
The American Sports Builders Association is the national organization representing builders, designers, and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities. Each year, ASBA recognizes outstanding facilities across multiple categories, including sports fields, tennis courts, running tracks, pickleball facilities, and multi-purpose complexes.
Award winners are announced during the Association’s annual Technical Meeting, which in 2025 was held December 2–5 in San Antonio, Texas. The event marked ASBA’s 60th anniversary and welcomed a record-breaking attendance of nearly 1,400 industry professionals.
“ASBA’s motto has always been ‘Build it Right,’ and this year’s award-winning projects truly exemplify that,” said Randy Resley, Chairman of ASBA. “Not only are they designed and constructed to exacting standards, but they provide an excellent playing experience for athletes and an outstanding environment for spectators.”
The ASBA 2025 Distinguished Facility Award reflects Paragon Star’s ongoing commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact. As the complex continues to host regional and national events, this recognition further validates its role as one of the Midwest’s premier sports destinations.
