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Commissioner's Pitch

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 16, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Long before he became a county commissioner, Michael Cox supported the idea of a multipurpose sports complex to serve Pasco County residents and community groups.

As a private citizen, he made a pitch to the Tourist Development Council in 2002 to scrap plans for a national tennis center and focus instead on a facility for a wider range of events. He did not win over the county commission then, and plans continue for a $7.9 million tennis center. But Cox has not given up.

Nearing his first anniversary as a commissioner, Cox is pushing the multipurpose idea on a bigger scale. He floated ideas Monday for a large athletic center similar to Disney's Wide World of Sports, but one that would be more affordable for families. Cox proposes the county pay for construction of fields, batting cages and a stadium with proceeds from construction impact fees and a hotel bed tax. A private agency would run the complex and share profits with Pasco.

'With the tourist development tax, we have a pot of money. Our problem is when we build something ... how do you operate it?' Cox told four members of the tourist council Monday. Four other members were absent, so the advisory panel could not formally vote.

Cox invited Pat Kight, a consultant for California-based Big League Dreams Sports Parks, to explain the concept to the council. If county officials pursue a sports complex, Cox explained, other companies would be considered.

Big League Dreams has six sports complexes in California, Texas and Arizona and plans to build six more, Kight said. Each is run through a public-private partnership with a portion of profits going to the sponsoring government. Events range from local Little League and adult games to national tournaments.

State law dictates how tourism tax dollars may be spent, but Assistant County Attorney Elizabeth Blair said a company may be hired to run a county-owned park.

Cox estimates the complex could cost about $15 million.

Kight said most complexes are built on about 30 acres for about $5 million more than a comparable county park, but governments save an average $500,000 per year in operating costs and take in more with profit-sharing. The complexes are tailored to their communities. Some assess leagues for electricity costs and other expenses; others don't. Big League Dreams charges spectators $2 admission.

'You can't afford to have 12 full-time maintenance workers. We can,' Kight said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano, who chairs the tourist council, supports the idea.

'I think this would be a tremendous place to play,' he said.

Parks and Recreation Director Rick Buckman said the county should study public-private partnerships in light of recent budget struggles. 'It makes some sense,' he said.

Curt Lutz, CEO of GL Sports Entertainment, said county officials should do a feasibility study.

'Sports is no longer entertainment. It's an industry, and it's growing,' he said. 'Potentially, this is a great, great project for this community.'

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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