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Sports Complex Has Long Way To Go

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By ERIC HORCHY

The Suncoast News

Published: August 31, 2008

TRINITY - For a majority of the population, that hope of crushing a hanging curveball over Boston's Green Monster or perhaps peppering a gapper to the ivy in Chicago is most likely long gone.

But California-based company Big League Dreams can step in to help dreams come true. It offers a scaled-down opportunity to play ball in replica major-league parks to anyone from little league players to grown-up weekend warriors. And Pasco County residents may be next in line to experience what the company has to offer if area officials can crunch the right numbers.

The company was selected in May to work on a proposed sports complex, beating out California-based Sportsplex USA. Big League Dreams planned to charge an initial $750,000 consulting fee along with a $350,000 licensing fee for the use of its name. However, county communications manager Eric Keaton said those numbers may be negotiable in contract discussions.

Overall project costs have been estimated at $16 million to $20 million.

Two factors yet to be decided are the park's size and location. In May's selection process, the proposed facility spanned 30 to 40 acres. And although three county officials - Keaton, Commissioner Michael Cox, and Parks and Recreation Director Rick Buckman - said the location is yet to be decided, they said the Trinity and Wesley Chapel areas have been discussed.

Both areas abut major throughways - Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel and the Suncoast Parkway, east of Trinity - which add to their attraction. If constructed, the complex would be expected to draw tournaments from other areas.
Buckman said a larger parcel of land may be easier to acquire in the Trinity area and that the Parks and Recreation Department's master plan has identified Trinity as the next place that needs a significant park.

Big League Dreams operates nine facilities in California, Texas and Arizona. The complex typically consists of three to six replica ballparks, an indoor sports facility, batting cages, a playground area and a restaurant.

California Town Reaps Benefits

Redding, a town of about 100,000 residents in the northern reaches of California, has been home to a Big League Dreams complex since July 31, 2004. Kim Neimer, the city's director of community services, said the facility has continued to be an economic boon for Redding since Day One.

"The project outperformed the initial business plan and is doing very well," she said. "In terms of serving the local needs, it has exceeded the community's expectations."

She and the Redding Big League Dreams' general manager, Gene Lanthorn, said the town's number of recreational league softball teams increased from about 35 to more than 200 since the park opened. They were hoping for that number by the fifth year but surpassed it by the second.

Playing host to tournaments continues to have a positive economic effect on the restaurant, hotel and tourism industries, Neimer said.

"With a complex as nice as Big League Dreams, people are going to travel to play here just to have the experience," Lanthorn said.

A 2006 evaluation of the park's economic impact showed more than $6 million flowing into the local economy after the first year of operation. That was expected to increase to more than $9 million by the fifth year.

Neimer also noted that the complex can facilitate other events such as concerts to draw additional patrons.

There's Still Work To Do

With Pasco recently making headway on the Pasco National Tennis Center in Wesley Chapel, officials noted there is still plenty of work to do to bring the type of developments seen in areas such as Redding.

The county still must decide how to use recreation-focused impact fee money, and it must hold public meetings with youth and sports groups, Cox said.

One aspect that is attractive to county officials is that Big League Dreams will operate the park once it opens. Pat Knight, the new park development director with Big League Dreams, said he expects about 75 to 80 jobs will be created to operate the facilities, all on the company's bill.

Overall, Keaton said the economic benefit for Pasco County would be worth the initial investment.

"One way to strengthen the economy is to bring in jobs," he said. "And I know those two projects the tennis center included will bring in jobs, and they will also improve the economic impact of the area."

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