Play Ball: County SportsPlex Getting Finishing Touches

TAMPA, FL -- Hillsborough County held a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 1 to celebrate progress on the Hillsborough County Tournament SportsPlex, a state-of-the-art, “tournament only” facility that will host championship-level athletic events and draw teams from across the country.

Taking final shape on Columbus Drive between U.S. 301 and Falkenburg Road, the 65-acre facility has 15 fields that can be configured for a variety of sports, including soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, cricket, ultimate (played with a flying disc) and field hockey. The facility features many notable “firsts” for a county sports complex, including:

• High-tech LED lighting that will bring a new dimension to night games, while cutting energy consumption by up to 65 percent
• Wireless Internet access throughout the complex
• A championship field with bleacher seating, adjacent to a large vendor village area
• A robotic field striper that uses GPS to automatically line fields

Championed by Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, the $17 million SportsPlex is a partnership between Hillsborough County, the Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. Hillsborough County is building and will own the facility, which will be managed by the Tampa Sports Authority. Construction is funded by the county, with additional funding through the Tourist Development Tax and support from the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council.

The Hillsborough County Tournament SportsPlex is expected to attract events in the booming youth and amateur sports markets as well as top adult and senior athletic competitions, bringing thousands of visitors to the area. A feasibility study projects the SportsPlex will have an economic impact of $7.3 million in its first year, and $25 million in the fifth year.

The first major tournament has already been secured, with the United States Flag and Touch Football League’s National Championships scheduled for Jan.18-20.

The SportsPlex is located at 9330 E. Columbus Drive.

Images via Hillsborough County

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