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Explore Future Plan

Proposed Athletics Complex at Orchard Ridge

On June 17, 2025, OCC’s Board of Trustees approved an agreement on fundamental terms to move forward on a shared vision with the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club (LCAAA). This initial agreement establishes a framework that will lead to a strategic plan for OCC athletics and a new facility for LCAAA.
 
OCC is currently exploring the possibility of a public-private partnership to develop a new athletics complex on the Orchard Ridge campus, which would include a new field house built and operated by OCC, and a hockey arena built and operated by LCAAA. Once completed, the new sports and hockey complexes would create a cornerstone for OCC’s vision of a Health and Wellness focus on the campus to coincide with a new state-of-the-art Health Science facility planned to open in the Fall 2027. The new Athletics Complex Project would also enable the College to expand its athletic programs and potentially establish a physical therapy assistant degree program and other related programs. The new sports facilities are tentatively projected to open in 2028. 
 
A presentation of the OCC/LCAAA shared vision will be given to the OCC Board of Trustees in July and August.

College and Community Engagement Forums

Join us for an opportunity to ask questions, join discussion groups, and listen to learn more about the Athletics Complex Project coming to OCC's Orchard Ridge Campus.

Dates:

  • Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 2-3:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m. 

Location:

Details:

  • Open to all employees, students and community members
  • Light refreshments will be served
  • While not required, registration is encouraged to help us plan accordingly

Registration:

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions will be updated as the project evolves.

Updated: 7/11/2025

The athletics complex project will bring all OCC athletics to one central location at the east end of our Orchard Ridge Campus on unused land that is currently grass field and parking lot. OCC is partnering with Little Caesars AAA (LCAAA) Youth Hockey Club on the project and the first phase will see a softball field, field house, and hockey arena constructed. Together we’ll create an active and vibrant athletics campus that benefits OCC and the local community. 

future athletics complex site

Visual of future athletics complex site on the Orchard Ridge campus

Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club is one of the most recognized and respected organizations in amateur hockey throughout North America. Mike and Marian Ilitch, founders of the Little Caesars Pizza chain, have sponsored amateur hockey teams since 1968 and are a major reason for the club's success. Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club teams have an extraordinary tradition of winning, having captured 112 state championship tournaments and 24 national titles over its 55-year history.  While winning is always nice, it is only one facet of the hockey program.  The major goal is to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared for future careers on or off the ice.  A mixture of instruction, discipline and positive feedback from outstanding coaches' aids in development that makes for a positive experience. We share many common goals and visions for our programs including supporting our athletes and students!

There are many synergies between LCAAA and OCC Athletics. Together, we can realize efficiencies in building programming and construct world class facilities for all athletes. OCC also has the immediate ability to expand its athletic team offerings via a hockey team. This partnership also presents the ability to expand OCC academic programs and create new  programming in health sciences that will present unique opportunities for OCC students and fill a needed gap in the Oakland County workforce. 

Absolutely! The project leadership team is developing a robust College and Community Engagement plan with numerous opportunities for all to learn about the project and provide feedback.

Join us to ask questions, join discussion groups and learn more at OCC's Orchard Ridge Campus, J-Building, Rm-306 on:

  • Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 2-3:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m. 
Additional opportunities for feedback will be provided during the project. 

OCC is funding the softball field and field house, while LCAAA is funding the hockey arena. OCC and LCAAA are sharing the cost of common assets such as site landscaping and parking lots. 

OCC is not giving its land to LCAAA. LCAAA will lease the land, and OCC will be fairly compensated for its use. At the end of the lease, the land and any improvements reverts to OCC. 

This is still being negotiated. Current negotiations center around OCC operating the softball field and field house, while LCAAA operates the hockey arena. 

The first phase of the project will see the construction of the softball field, field house, and hockey arena. A vision for future phases of the project and partnership have been contemplated with assets such as athletics centered restaurants, OCC baseball fields, athlete/family lodging, athletics centered medical center, and community outdoor activities and activations among others. The agreements are only for the first phase, and any future phase buildout will follow a similar agreement and approval process.  

The first phase of the project is estimated to take three to five years from the start of design through completed construction. 

We currently do not have a name for the complex, and welcome input from our College and Community during our engagement opportunities. 

For More Information 

OCC is woven into the fabric of Oakland County and we understand you may have questions about our future plan. We encourage you to review the FAQs for more detailed information about what changes we are making, and why. As we begin to implement our plan, we will also update this page with the latest developments.  

Additional questions or concerns? You can email these to futureplan@oaklandcc.edu.