A proposal for a $150 million sports medical complex specializing in head trauma and concussion treatment was selected as the preferred bid to develop at the site of the old Indianapolis International Airport terminal.

The developer, Athletes Business Network, said the ABN Global Center for Brain Health would employ 3,000 workers.

“The chance for the Westside to benefit is tremendous,” airport board member Phillip Borst said at a Tuesday news conference at the airport. “It can elevate this side of town.”

Built on 130 acres south of Washington Street near High School Road, the center would have a 250 room hotel and five medical office buildings that specialize in sports performance, substance abuse sports medicine and orthopedics and sport medical technology.

The brain health division would concentrate on treating athletes suffering the affects of concussions and soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

“A brain health project of this size has never been done anywhere in the world,” said Craig Sanders, co-founder and chief executive officer of ABN. “This research and our message and our ability to put a focused and global spotlight on brain health issues can save lives.”

The brain center would be headed by Dr. Jim Kelly, former director of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, part of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda Md., which treats traumatic brain injuries.

A second bid was also approved. Holladay Properties of South Bend plans to build a separate project on 300 acres near the medical center. Its plan are not finalized but could include entertainment and light industrial  uses.

The airport is selling or transferring 3,200 acres, worth $83 million, to developers and local governments. Airport officials said it would will generate $1.8 million a year in property taxes.

Mario Rodriguez, airport executive director, said the medical complex would be privately financed and no subsidies were being sought.

ABN was founded in 2009 by Sanders, Yair Oren and Arne Pederson and this would be its first venture.  Partners in the project include The Pataki Group of New York; the Walsh Group of Chicago; The Hagerman Group of Indianapolis; CH Johnson Co., of Chicago; BC Ziegler and Co. of California and Gensler, of Houston, Texas.

Construction of the first phase could begin in 2017. It would include two of the medical buildings and the hotel.

Phase 2 would include a 25,000-seat stadium and an additional 250 room hotel. The entire project would cost an estimated $500 million.

The airport board of directors will vote on the plans Friday.

Little had been known about the handful of submitted bids except one by the owner of the Rising Sun Casino to build a $150 million casino with 700 gaming tables on a 135-acre parcel. Rodriguez said the casino was rejected in favor of the medical center because it would better serve a wider swath of people.

Late last year, investors paid $3 million for another 329 acres during an auction, clearing the way for residential, commercial or industrial development. That land was in 31 tracts scattered around the airport, including at the Stanley Cove subdivision in Plainfield, the old Speedway Airport near Ronald Reagan Parkway in Avon and on Lynhurst Drive near Kentucky Avenue in Indianapolis.

Those parcels were expected to generate $75,000 in taxes immediately and $200,000 for every $10 million in capital improvements.

The airport also has agreed to transfer nearly 2,000 acres of conservation land to the Hendricks County Park Board and the Town of Plainfield.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at 317 444-67418 and follow on Twitter at John_tuohy.