Hillsborough tourism staff push MOSI site as preferred location for $70 million indoor sports complex

County tourism staff on May 15 told the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council that they recommend the Museum of Science & Industry site, known as MOSI, as the preferred location for a proposed indoor sports complex and outlined the project’s size, cost and funding options.

The recommendation came during a presentation from county facilities staff and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. John Mueller, the county’s director for facilities and real estate, said “the recommended size for this was 174,000 square feet” and that a stand‑alone facility would likely require up to about 15 acres (or roughly 6 acres if it ties into an existing site with shared parking). Mueller added the full build cost was estimated “just under $70,000,000.”

The proposal ties the indoor facility to the county’s MOSI redevelopment and would reuse portions of the existing MOSI west building to reduce new construction. Mueller said…