By Matt Wiley
It’s the bottom of the ninth, there’s a full-count with two outs. There’s the pitch, a swing and a base hit to keep the project that could bring a world-class baseball training complex to Wesley Chapel alive. After two deadline extensions, Blue Marble Sports has submitted a financing plan to Pasco County that representatives from the company hope will allow for the release of millions of dollars in county funding that will finally secure the project and get it moving.
On October 13, the county received Blue Marble’s financing plan, but Pasco Tourism manager Ed Caum said in an October 14 press release that it would take at least a week to review the materials. However, there was no update as we went to press with this issue on October 17.
“This project is the culmination of years of searching for a key partner to help create a sports destination in Pasco County that will serve the entire Tampa Bay region,” Caum said in the release. “Pasco County and (Blue Marble Sports) are looking forward to working together to start building what is expected to be a one-of-a-kind, 19-field sports complex.”
In order for the county to release the $11 million in tourist taxes and bond revenue that it has committed to bringing the baseball facility to fruition, Blue Marble was tasked with showing that the company had at least $23-million in financing. The facility is to be built on 200 acres of land donated by the Porter family inside the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI), and once completed, the 19-field complex will include nine MLB-size fields.
Blue Marble’s James Talton could not be reached for comment, but he told the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) during an Economic Development Council meeting on September 25 that he and his partner, retired MLB great Gary Sheffield, would be working until the last minute to secure a financing plan.
Sheffield told WCCC ambassadors that he has been in talks with representatives from the Atlanta Braves about potentially moving their current spring training operation to Wesley Chapel from Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex. In addition, he also said that former big leaguers Bo Jackson and Cal Ripken, Jr., are interested in possibly hosting some of their respective Little League Baseball camps at the Wesley Chapel facility.
“We are excited this is moving forward and hope the county reviews the plan quickly,” says Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce executive director Hope Allen.
Stay tuned for updates about this project as they become available.
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