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Sports To Drive 2009 Tourism Marketing

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: January 11, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - The Pasco Tourist Development Council will ring in a new year with a new chairwoman, Commissioner Pat Mulieri.

Mulieri will take the gavel from commission Chairman Jack Mariano at the Jan. 21 council meeting. Mulieri served on the council in 2005.

Pasco County tourism was bucking the trends in 2008, with increasing tourism revenue collected despite the economic downturn.

The levies put a 2 percent surcharge on bills for motel and hotel stays and other short-term rental accommodations to fund tourism programs. The council, with government and business leaders, advises the county commission on how to spend the tourist tax revenue.

Sports marketing has been a big trend during Mariano's tenure. The county joined the Florida Sports Foundation in a bid to lure more tournaments here.

A lacrosse event was one result. For a second year, Dick's Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions returned to Pasco County from Jan. 2 to 4.

Based on last year's participation, organizers added a third day to the lacrosse event, with more than 30 teams competing. Last year's tournament featured 25 teams from 12 states and Canada.

"I do believe we should continue with the multi-use facility," Mulieri said.

Since late October, the county has been negotiating with two private firms about managing a proposed sports complex in Pasco. The county could tap tourism tax money to build it, but doesn't have the funds to operate it, county staff had explained to commissioners.

Big League Dreams and Sportsplex USA have expressed interest in managing the new facility, which the county would own.

Big League Dreams operates nine sports complexes, Scott P. Stromer, the county's purchasing director, wrote in an Oct. 28 memo to county commissioners. The company creates baseball and softball fields that replicate professional baseball stadiums.
Sportsplex USA operates one sports complex that utilizes a mix of baseball-softball fields and soccer fields, Stromer said. Sportsplex USA's approach develops a customized facility for each location, combining sports such as field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, softball or other sports.

The next council meeting starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 in the board room of the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey. Meetings are open to the public. The meeting agenda should be ready soon. For a copy, call (727) 847-8129 or e-mail a request to tourism@pascocounty fl.net.

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