New Operator Takes Over At The Sports Campus! 

Sports Facilities Companies Studying Parking & Other Improvements At Popular Wiregrass Ranch Facility 

The lobby was packed at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus on Sept. 20 for a 100-team AAU volleyball tournament. (Photo by Charmaine George)

 It’s only been roughly two months since Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) received the contract with Pasco County to manage the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, but the Clearwater-based company that manages dozens of similar facilities across the country is already taking action to make improvements to what has been called the “crown jewel” of sports attractors to Florida’s Sports Coast, also known as the Pasco County Tourism Department. 

Although we have yet to be able to sit down and actually chat with any of SFC’s upper management, SFC partner Ashley Whitaker did respond to all of my questions about SFC’s plans for the Sports Campus by email — and it’s obvious from those answers that this company definitely knows how to manage facilities like these and, as Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter recently told me, “the county made the right choice when they chose [SFC].” 

Checking Back In 

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been back at the Sports Campus. As you readers know, my wife (and sales manager) Jannah was the director of sales and marketing under the previous operator RADDSports, which had its contract bought out by the Pasco County back in 2023, after the County Commission voted to default RADDSports and RADD sued Pasco County. 

The county then opted to manage the facility itself, even though Pasco’s agreement with Wiregrass Ranch was that the county was never allowed to operate the facility. 

But, that’s all water under the bridge now, as SFC has already made a number of important moves — with more still to come. 

Below is my email discussion with Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) partner Ashley Whittaker (photo, right & “AW “in Q&A below), who leads SFC’s in-house marketing and branding “agency.” 

I appreciate Ashley’s candid answers to my many questions about SFC’s plans for the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, now that the company has a little less than two months of manging the facility under its belt. 

For those who are unaware, SFC has developed and/or managed nearly 100 sports facilities across the country, making it one of the leaders in this industry. — GN 

Partner Ashley Whittaker of Sports Facilities Companies is excited about the full slate of activities happening at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus and SFC’s role in bringing improved parking, new events and amenities to the sports campus in the future. (Photo of Ashley Whittaker from SportsFacilities.com)

GN – Does SFC now have its own management on-site at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus (WRSC)? 

AW – SFC has been fortunate to inherit the hardworking staff at WRSC, and we are aligning them with our industry leading standards in all departments, integrating with our support center in Clearwater. 

GN-Is SFC retaining all of the existing employees at the Sports Campus or have you been deciding on a case-by-case basis which of those employees you will retain? 

AW-All existing employees of WRSC were offered the opportunity to remain with the venue under SFC management. 

GN-How many weekend events are already on the books at the Sports Campus for the rest of 2025? 

AW-Along with the Florida’s Sports Coast DMO (Destination Management Organization), we have a robust schedule and are looking forward to a great fall season with events both inside and outside on the new grass fields throughout the end of the year every weekend. 

(Photo of AAU volleyball at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus by Charmaine George) 

GN-Are there any weekends available this year for your company to book your own events? If not, when will SFC be able to start adding new weekend events? 

AW-With such a full calendar, there are few weekends available for any additional events. When we do have availability, events (including SFC ones) will be selected on merit for the benefit of the community. 

GN-Will you be continuing the local programming that’s currently in place or will SFC be replacing that programming with programs of its own? If so, what programs will you change/add? 

AW-Yes, we will be continuing with the local programming. The only change will be how parents register for the programming through enhanced software. 

GN-I know the county said that SFC will be conducting a study to see how additional parking can be configured at that site and that it will take up to six months for you to conclude that study, but when will the study actually begin (or has it already)? 

This isn’t just a view of the adjacent Residence Inn, it’s also one of the current grass-&-gravel overflow parking lots for the Sports Campus.

AW-Yes, the study is under way. In addition to parking, we are also exploring the feasibility of indoor and outdoor complimentary amenities. The study is under way and will be reviewed with the county in November/ December timeframe. 

GN-Is there anywhere at the Sports Campus site where you can see being able to expand the existing parking? 

AW-We are exploring with Pasco County the opportunity to enhance parking at the Sports Campus. 

GN-Have you now spoken with JD Porter and/or Scott Sheridan of Locust Branch/Wiregrass Ranch? Can you tell me anything about that (or those) discussion(s)? 

AW-Yes, we have engaged in conversations with JD Porter and Scott Sheridan and look forward to being great neighbors and community partners. 

GN-Have you been in contact with the Peachtree Group about the Residence Inn that shares the site? Can you tell me anything about that discussion? 

AW-We have hosted specific meetings introducing ourselves to the hotel community and also presented to local business owners at the request of Florida’s Sports Coast DMO. 

GN-Is there any way to do a live interview with you, your partner Eric Sullivan or someone else from SFC — at the Sports Campus or at the North Tampa Bay Chamber office for my new podcast? Even if it needs to be much further into the future, an actual interview is much more personal and will be better received by my readers (because I also will do a story about it in print) and podcast viewers. 

AW-This is possible to be scheduled sometime in the future. 

Schools On Wells Rd. To Get Sidewalks, Thanks To State Grant & A Weightman Student!

(l.-r.) Dr. Toni Zetzsche of Pasco County Schools, School Board member Megan Harding, State Rep. Randy Maggard, Pasco Comm. Seth Weightman, Josh, State Sen. Danny Burgess, School Board member Colleen Beaudoin and Pasco administrator Mike Carballa at the check presentation ceremony for the new sidewalks on Sept. 12. (Photo provided by Pasco County)

Meadow Pointe resident and Weightman Middle School eighth grader Josh Patrick was only twelve years old when he set up his first meeting with District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman last August to talk about the lack of sidewalks on Curley Rd. and Wells Rd. heading to the Wesley Chapel School Complex. 

“My mom always drives me to school,” Josh says, “but I saw a lot of kids walking and riding bikes that had to dodge cars all the time because there are no sidewalks. I just felt like something needed to be done.” 

Meadow Pointe resident and Weightman Middle School 8th grader Josh Patrick was only 12 years old when he made a presentation to the Pasco MPO about the lack of sidewalks near his school. (Photo provided by Josh Patrick.) 

Not only did Commissioner Weightman agree, he told Josh to appear at a Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting to present the issue, which he did (left photo) on Jan. 9 of this year. Thanks to Josh, the county requested funding to construct the sidewalks from the state legislature, which approved $1.5 million in this year’s state budget in June. 

“Sidewalk appropriation requests are my legislative ask for every session,” Comm. Weightman says. “But Josh definitely made this happen.” 

Josh says there’s a reason why he succeeded where others have failed. “Most of the time, when someone advocates for something, it’s usually always ‘concerned parents’ who attend those meetings,” he says. “I just think it’s a lot more impactful to have the students themselves there.” 

Josh was next invited to attend the check presentation ceremony (top photo) on Sept. 12 with District 54 State Representative Randy Maggard, District 23 State Senator Danny Burgess, Pasco County administrator Mike Carballa, Pasco School Board members Megan Harding (District 5) and Colleen Beaudoin (District 2), and Dr. Toni Zetzsche, the chief communications & community engagement officer for the Pasco School District. 

Weightman says that the survey work for the Wesley Chapel sidewalk project will begin next month and will take six months to complete. 

At the same time, the county will negotiate the design fee with a consultant and get the task order executed. Then, design and permitting will take about nine months, the procurement of all of the needed property for the project will take another six months, with another two months to award the contract and ten months to complete the construction. In other words, by the time the project is completed — around July of 2028 — Josh will be a junior in high school. 

“But, at least it’s going to be done,” Josh says. “It shows that just because you’re a kid, it doesn’t mean you can’t get things accomplished.” 

Of course, Josh’s parents, Mark and Marsha Patrick, are extremely proud of their son. We’re super-proud of him, too. 

Great job, young man! 

Rudraksh Indian Cuisine’s Grand Opening!

Although we first told you about the opening of Rudraksh Indian Cuisine at 4424 Friendly Way, Suite 115, in Downtown Avalon Park in our May 13 issue, owners (top photo) Manashi Borush (left) and Amit Ghorpade celebrated the “official” Grand Opening of their upscale Indian restaurant on Aug. 9. 

And of course, yours truly had to be there to enjoy some more unique flavors and wish the owners and their general manager Dee well. 

“A lot more people have been giving us a try since Tallo (the Caribbean-American fusion restaurant next door) opened,” Dee says. “But, they keep coming back because they found out that they love the food (like the tasty Tandoori lamb seekh kabobs below) and the atmosphere here, too. We have been super-busy on the weekends and the lunch and weekday dinner business is growing, too.” 

The place definitely was packed with both regulars and newcomers for the Grand Opening event, which included a complimentary glass of champagne and an incredible 30% off your bill. So of course, I had to grab a seat at the gorgeous, premium-liquor bar and not only try the lamb kabobs (right) but also the butter naan (below; I still prefer the lamb chops and garlic naan), and indulge in my still-favorite Rudraksh dish, the Lehsoni Gobi (crispy cauliflower with garlic sauce). For more info, call (813) 355-3914 or visit RudrakshIndianCuisine.com. — GN 

CITY Furniture Begins Construction, Home2 Suites Is Planned North Of 56

CITY Furniture is under construction on a nearly-9-acre site next to Chicken Guy & the Floor & Decor store on the north side of S.R. 56. The Home2 Suites hotel is planned, but is not yet under construction next to the Hyatt Place hotel. (NN map is not to scale & only shows approximate locations) 

We first told you back in 2023 that CITY Furniture was planning to build a 120,000-sq.-ft. showroom on a 400,000-sq.-ft. (8.92-acre) parcel valued at $3.774 million, across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets, near the Floor & Decor store (see map). 

Well, the site work for CITY Furniture recently began (photo below; the Silversaw Apartments are in the background) and Maitland, FL-based Miller Construction Co., is doing the construction. We’ll keep you posted as CITY Furniture gets closer to completion and its opening. 

To the east of the latest furniture store planned to open in the Wesley Chapel area will be the Home2 Suites by Hilton – Wesley Chapel hotel that will be developed by Impact Properties, the same group that built and still owns the nearly adjacent Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel hotel. 

Although we don’t know when the construction of the 103-room, five-story, 66,913-sq.-ft. Home2 Suites is expected to begin, the last update we received said it was expected to open sometime in 2026. 

An interesting thing about the hotel is that it will be constructed on only a two-acre site (less than 1/4 the size of the CITY Furniture site), valued at $1.112 million. — GN, with research by Joel Provenzano 

Get Updated About Wesley Chapel’s Only Pediatric Hospital Tomorrow!

Wednesday, September 24, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber Economic Development Briefing. At Pasco Hernando State College, Porter Campus (2727 Mansfield Blvd., Conference Center, 3rd Floor). Tampa’s Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital has been providing care to the children of the greater Tampa Bay area for almost 100 years. In order to bring expert care closer to home for many children, for the first time, a brand new pediatric acute care hospital will open in Wesley Chapel. Join the Chamber for an intriguing discussion about a myriad of topics with our panel members: Justin Olsen, COO & Joseph Perno, M.D., VP of Medical Affairs – at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital; Teresa Campbell, architect & principal in charge, HKS Architects; and Bryan Durkin, operations manager, Robins & Morton. The cost to attend this event is $25. 

For more info or to pre-register, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â