TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Developer Agreed On For Sports Complex

ADVERTISEMENT

By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

County leaders took another step this week toward building a multipurpose sports complex in Pasco.

The county commission on Tuesday unanimously agreed to negotiate with California-based Big League Dreams, one of two companies that made a pitch to partner with Pasco on ball fields and other sports facilities.

Big League Dreams has asked for $750,000 to develop replica ball fields that resemble stadiums such as Boston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field, plus $450,000 to use the Big League Dreams name.

The other bidder, Sportsplex USA, asked for $350,000 to build a multipurpose park.

Such parks typically charge entrance fees but make most of their money from accompanying restaurants and concessions.

A county selection committee favored Big League Dreams, although its price remains a sticking point.

"We were all concerned about the dollar value and licensing fees," said selection committee member Michael Nurrenbrock, the county's director of management and budget. "We want to see if there is any way to negotiate."

State-mandated tax cuts and a constitutional amendment that allows bigger property tax breaks for homeowners have Pasco officials looking for new ways to operate public parks.

"With the future of Amendment 1, we can afford to build the park, but we can't afford to operate it," Nurrenbrock said. "Looking forward, unless something changes dramatically, you're going to have to have more and more of these."

County Commissioner Michael Cox, who suggested the Tourist Development Council and Pasco parks officials investigate possibilities for a sports complex, asked fellow board members to hire a consultant to assess the "economic impact" of a multipurpose sports complex.

Impact DataSource recently conducted a study of Turbine Diagnostics, a company planning to expand in Pasco. The $3,250 study would show how much the project would bring in from construction fees and new jobs.

If the multipurpose sports complex comes to fruition, construction money could come from Pasco's 2 percent tax on hotel stays and short-term rentals. County officials have set aside $7.8 million for construction of a tennis stadium in Wesley Chapel. An additional $2.9 million is available in the tourist tax fund, Nurrenbrock said.

About $13.7 million also is available from construction impact fee proceeds earmarked for parks, said County Administrator John Gallagher, who is looking to expand or build parks in Land O' Lakes and Trinity.

"I've got money to build things," he said. "I don't have money to open them."

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT