Picente Announces Request for Expressions of Interest for The Runway

County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. today announced that Oneida County has formally issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (REI) to develop Building 101 at Griffiss International Airport into the The Runway — a multipurpose indoor sports, recreation and tourism complex.

“Building 101 represents one of the most extraordinary redevelopment opportunities anywhere in the Northeast,” Picente said. “With more than 400,000 square feet of column-free space, this project has the potential to redefine Griffiss as a premier sports tourism destination, generate year-round economic activity and build on the tremendous momentum we’ve already created with facilities like the Nexus Center and Murnane Field.”

The REI invites experienced development and operating teams to submit concepts for transforming the former U.S. Air Force hangar into what is envisioned as the largest indoor multi-sport complex in New York State and the second largest of its kind in the nation.

Located within the Griffiss Business & Technology Park in the City of Rome, the county-owned Building 101 offers unmatched scale and flexibility for adaptive reuse. In his 2025 State of the County Address, Picente identified the site as a transformative opportunity to capitalize on the rapid growth of sports-based tourism, youth and amateur tournaments, wellness programming and emerging recreation trends.

The Runway is envisioned as a flexible, multi-dimensional sports and recreation campus capable of hosting tournaments, leagues, training camps and community programming while attracting visitors from across the country and beyond. Concept plans include expansive indoor field and court spaces, fitness and wellness amenities, classrooms and program areas, an elevated track and supporting infrastructure, along with the potential for outdoor tournament fields and complementary hospitality or commercial development.

“This is not just about sports,” Picente said. “It’s about economic development, tourism, job creation and long-term activation of Griffiss. We are seeking partners with the vision, experience and financial capacity to deliver a world-class facility that serves residents while competing on a national stage.”

The County is open to a wide range of development and operating models, including public–private partnerships, long-term operating agreements, leases or hybrid developer–operator structures. Respondents are encouraged to propose creative, sustainable approaches that ensure the facility’s long-term success and competitiveness.

Submissions will be evaluated based on vision and alignment with county goals; experience and qualifications; financial capacity and feasibility and innovation. The REI does not obligate the County to award a contract, but is intended to identify strong potential partners and inform next steps, which may include issuance of a formal Request for Proposals.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted electronically to lmbenjamin@oneidacountyny.gov and as a hard copy to the Oneida County Planning Department, Attn: Linda Benjamin at 321 Main Street – 3rd Floor, Utica, New York 13501. Submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on April 9, 2026.

Any questions concerning the REI must be submitted in writing to the foregoing address, or by email to lmbenjamin@oneidacountyny.gov, no later than February 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

For additional information, interested parties are encouraged to review the full REI issued by the Oneida County Department of Planning here.