A controversial Topgolf proposal is stirring heated debate in South Natomas as the community prepares for what could be a decisive public vote on Sacramento's first location of the popular entertainment venue. The project has created a sharp divide between residents concerned about neighborhood impacts and supporters who see economic benefits.
According to CBS News Sacramento, South Natomas homeowner Alan Hattey expressed strong opposition to the project. "I was absolutely shocked that they would put a Topgolf in the middle of what I consider a neighborhood," Hattey said. "This doesn't seem like a great location to me, to my neighbors and pretty much everybody I speak to in the whole area."
Project Details and Location
The proposed facility would be built on vacant land along Venture Oaks Boulevard, just west of I-5 near the West El Camino Avenue interchange. As reported by KCRA, an application for the two-story, 45,000-square-foot entertainment venue was submitted to the city on November 12.
The facility would feature a multi-level golf driving range with 80 bays, a full-service restaurant and bar, event spaces, and 350 parking stalls spread across nearly 15 acres. The driving range would include 156-foot-tall netting and stay open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Community Concerns Mount
Residents have raised multiple concerns about the project's impact on their neighborhood. Hattey specifically cited worries about the facility's towering lights and extended hours. "The fact that the posts are going to be 165 feet high with the lights on them, and we live there, that's going to be hard to get used to if it does go," he told reporters.
Environmental impacts are also a concern, as CBS News Sacramento notes that more than 50 trees would need to be cut down to make way for the development. Traffic congestion in an already busy area near I-5 represents another major worry for local residents.
Political Support and Economic Promise
Mayor Pro Tem Karina Talamantes has emerged as the project's primary champion, seeing significant economic potential in the proposal. As detailed by Hoodline in previous coverage, Talamantes expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating "This new 58,000-square-foot venue will generate 250+ new jobs and contribute approximately 15 million dollars in economic growth to our community."
Addressing traffic concerns, CBS News Sacramento reported that Talamantes argued the facility "It actually produces less traffic or comparable to a grocery store, so the traffic congestion won't be as massive as one would anticipate." The councilmember projects the venue could attract 250,000 visitors annually.
Business Community Weighs In
Local businesses near the proposed site are showing support for the development. Cameron Weathers, who works at the Hilton Garden Inn adjacent to the site, told CBS News Sacramento, "We're way more than happy to have something like that come here and we look forward to it. It's going to bring a large crowd. It's going to bring a good vibe to our area."
Regional Context and Market Challenges
If approved, this would mark Sacramento's first Topgolf location, though CBS News Sacramento notes that the company opened its first California location in Roseville. The timing comes as the parent company faces headwinds, with ABC10 reporting that Topgolf Callaway's second-quarter earnings showed sales at existing locations down 8% year-over-year.
The current site has seen multiple development proposals over the years. Before the pandemic, a developer proposed a 12-story office building on the land, and more recently there was an application for a multi-family housing complex. As the community prepares for the upcoming vote, the project is seen as a test case for balancing economic development with neighborhood preservation in one of Sacramento's growing areas.
