Pasco BOCC Unanimously Approves Baseball Complex Agreement

By Matt Wiley

For nearly two years, negotiations have heated up and then gone cold regarding a planned sports complex in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI). However, following the January 14 Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, it now looks as if the “pipe dream” could in fact become a reality.

During their first meeting of the year in Dade City, Pasco commissioners voted unanimously to approve an agreement between the county and Pasco Sports, LLC (also known as Blue Marble Strategic), which will be constructing the approximately $34-million, multi-purpose baseball complex in Wiregrass Ranch, originally to be called the “Fields at Wiregrass.”

Under the new agreement, Pasco will put $11 million ($8.5 million from tourist taxes and the rest from bond proceeds) toward the funding of the complex, the design and construction of the infrastructure beneath the future fields and installation of park elements outside the complex, including walking trails, picnic areas and directional signage to the park.

Pasco Sports will be responsible for footing the remaining $23 million for the design and construction of the complex itself, which will feature a minimum of 15 baseball fields, a 2,500-seat stadium, batting cages and a large dormitory with cafeteria for visiting athletes and coaches.

The agreement requires that Pasco Sports provide proof of funding within the next six months and Blue Marble’s James Talton already is hard at work finding that proof.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with a lot of people who want to be a part of (the complex),” Talton explains. “The challenge is finding out which one is going to be ‘the one.’”

Once Talton has provided proof of funding to the county, construction of infrastructure must begin within 120 days. Then, the construction of the complex itself must begin within 90 days of the completion of the infrastructure. The county staff will work with Pasco Sports during the infrastructure design to ensure compatibility.

“(The designers from the county and Pasco Sports) will be working hand-in-glove to make sure that the designs mesh,” said Pasco administrator Michele Baker during the Jan. 14 meeting.

Talton says that he plans to keep the park busy year-round, which he hopes could mean bringing a Major League Baseball team to the complex for a new spring training home, in addition to competitive sports tournaments. Talton says that he currently is having discussions with several owners, but that the real profitability for both the county and the complex will actually be in amateur sports.

“This complex is going to be an economic impact generator,” Talton explains. “While the kids playing in tournaments are staying on-site in the dormitories, their families will be staying off-site and spending money in the community.”

Talton touts the flexibility of the facility, which will be capable of hosting large conferences and conventions in the dormitory buildings, as well as concerts in the outdoor areas within the complex.

The agreement also allows Pasco Sports to sell naming rights, which must include both “Pasco County” and “Wiregrass” in the name that the County must approve before it becomes official. Pasco Sports also can charge an admission fee, but only to use the inside of the facility. The use of park elements, including the picnic areas and walking trails, will remain free of charge. Although the agreement ensures a discount of at least 10-percent off admission fees to Pasco residents, BOCC chair Jack Mariano stressed during the meeting that he wanted to see it raised to around 50 percent, so that no parent would not be able to afford to see their child play in a competitive tournament at the complex.

The initial contract between the county and Pasco Sports is for 45 years, during which time the county will receive $60,000 in fixed revenue after the third year, as well as 3 percent of the facility’s gross annual revenue.

Talton says that he already has been solidifying contracts for tournaments at the fields for as soon as 2016 and hopes to break ground by the end of the year, pending any delays.

“It’s really fantastic to have this agreement in-hand,” Talton says. “We had two daunting tasks, one of which was getting the agreement signed. Now the big task is raising the $23 million.”