Wisemen Multimedia LLC Announces Development of EXE Sports at Ranger’s Speedway — A $480 Million Mixed-Use Amateur Sports Entertainment District in Columbus, GA

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 25, 2026--

Wisemen Multimedia LLC (Wisemen) today announced the planned development of EXE Sports ™, a visionary mixed-use amateur sports entertainment district to be constructed in Columbus, GA.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260225369770/en/

EXE Sports™ represents a transformative new destination that blends competitive amateur athletics, experiential entertainment, retail, and hospitality in an unprecedented format. Its unique feature stack blends the energy and vibrance of Atlanta’s world-class entertainment hub, The Battery Atlanta, and the premier lifestyle dining, shopping, and retail experience of Avalon in Alpharetta, GA.

“We’re thrilled to bring EXE Sports to Columbus,” said Eric Brown, CEO, Wisemen. “We’re at the early stage, but this project is more than a destination — it represents a bold new chapter of sports tourism. EXE Sports is designed to activate communities year-round, support amateur athletes at every level, and generate sustained economic impact for host cities like Columbus which is already a sports-destination that successfully attracts tournaments annually.”

EXE Sports™ will offer a walkable, mixed-use district anchored by hospitality, waterpark attractions, and residential living — creating a true multi-day destination rather than a single-event venue. Key features include multi-sport competition fields, a 1.2-mile racetrack, waterpark, live event venues, gaming experiences, and family-friendly activations. Two Four-story multi-family buildings with 600 residences overlooking the river will be separated by a beautiful central plaza.

Retail and dining experiences will be positioned throughout the site. The hotel will have 440 premium rooms and a 30,000ft 2 convention and event center. Our Workforce Development team will do community engagement through youth development programs, local partnerships, and outreach initiatives, including skill up and transition programs for soldiers at nearby Fort Benning.

Wisemen Chief Revenue Officer, Teri Sims-Scott said she believes the Development Authority of Columbus, GA, has shown a strong commitment for Wisemen to bring this project to fruition, evidenced by a successful inducement resolution with substantial potential incentives.

The team is working to begin Construction in late 2026, with phased openings planned for 2027. EXE Sports™ is expected to create significant economic impact for the Columbus region, including job creation, increased tourism, and downstream business growth. As the first flagship site of a planned 300-site EXE Sports ™ Enterprise across North America, this development marks the inception of a scalable model for community-centric sports entertainment destinations.

For more information, visit https://exesports.com.

About Wisemen Multimedia LLC

Wisemen Multimedia LLC is an Atlanta-based leader in immersive media, sports entertainment development, and community projects. With a focus on innovation, economic impact, and scalable destination experiences, Wisemen Multimedia delivers transformative projects that enrich communities and redefine entertainment landscapes.

EXE Sports at Ranger's Speedway Conceptual Master Plan

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start.

Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls — one of them by the slimmest of margins.

The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one Skenes has for Pittsburgh before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic. He allowed one hit and one run while facing 12 batters. He is going into his third season with the Pirates.

“Winning gold is the biggest thing,” said Skenes, who was then asked if U.S. success in the just-completed Winter Olympics provides more motivation. “Yeah, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, all the other golds that we won in the Olympics. We’re America, we’ve got to assert our dominance over everybody else. That’s what we do. ... It's going to be fun.”

Skenes threw 27 pitches for strikes against the Braves, along with four other pitches initially called strikes by home plate umpire Chris Segal that Braves hitters challenged through the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.

“Today, that’s how it is. I’ve just got to adjust," Skenes said. “I think it will even out over the course of the season, but ask me in June.”

Three of those challenges came on consecutive batters in the first inning.

Matt Olson challenged an 82.3 mph curveball that was called a strike, and had a smile on his face as replay showed indeed that the 1-1 pitch was only about one-tenth of an inch off the plate. He went on to draw a walk.

“When the season gets rolling, that’s probably not the pitch that you’re going to be challenging, but you’ve got to feel it out a bit,” Olson said. “I figured, whatever. It was a backdoor sweeper that I felt kind of held up a little bit.”

Jurickson Profar then challenged a 98.3 mph fastball for a strike on the first pitch he faced, and it was overturned to a 1-0 count before he also walked. Austin Riley sought a replay when a 99 mph pitch on an 0-2 count was called a strike, but was above the zone, though on the next pitch he struck out swinging on a 98.5 mph fastball just below that.

In the Braves second, Ronald Acuña asked for a review and got a ball on a 97.6 mph fastball off the plate that had been called a strike.

While the overturned strike thrown to Riley was the fastest of the day by Skenes, his fastball was consistently in the upper-90s throughout his outing.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes watches a workout during spring training baseball Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)