March 19, 2007 by Richard Lawson
Nashville Business Journal
Wilson Sporting Goods building fetches big price

Wilson Sporting Goods' distribution center in Wilson County has been sold for just under $30 million, according to real estate sources.

First Industrial sold the 575,000-square-foot building known as Rockdale Distribution Center II to USAA. The Wilson Sporting Goods building can be expanded up to 925,000 square feet and word is Wilson will take that space. Wilson Sporting Goods leased the building last year.

Doug McDowell, at ProVenture Commercial Real Estate, represented First Industrial in the sale. McDowell and Jeb Atkinson, also with ProVenture, represented First Industrial in leasing the building while another ProVenture broker, Randy Wolcott represented Wilson Sporting Goods on the lease.

First Industrial officials couldn't confirm the price but sources say it fetched several more dollars per square foot than what Dividend Capital Trust paid for Rockdale I early last year. Dividend Capital paid $15 million for the 325,000-square-foot deal.

The price USAA paid is at the top end of the industrial market. Real estate brokers say there is still a lot of money chasing deals and properties are being bid up.

First Industrial has started construction on the third Rockdale building that starts at 300,000 square feet and can be expanded to 1 million square feet.