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 reusing MOSI might reduce new construction by about 40,000 square feet but would require structured parking and coordinated traffic improvements.

Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, cited performance from an earlier county sports venue to argue for the project’s potential to drive hotel bookings. “That facility actually generated 218,327 hotel visitor room nights,” Higgins said, referring to the tournament sportsplex built in prior years, and added the consultants’ report projects the indoor sportsplex could host roughly 69 events and generate about 81,000 visitor room nights.

Staff outlined potential funding sources for preliminary engineering and design work, including excess capital improvement tax (CIT) revenue, tourist development tax (TDT) proceeds, and a $2,000,000 allocation of previously earmarked BP funds. Ron Barton, who presented the financial slides, said, “we also have $2,000,000 in BP funds that Chair Hagan had earmarked years ago for this type of facility,” and that the BOCC last week authorized using those dollars to begin design work.

County staff said they evaluated 18 potential sites and narrowed options to West Shore, a county MOSI site and land adjacent to the Columbus Drive sportsplex; staff recommended MOSI because existing on‑site infrastructure and the planned redevelopment could lower costs and accelerate delivery. Staff cautioned that West Shore remains a possible option if a formal funding proposal from that area emerges.

Board members and local elected officials urged coordination with hotels, transit and adjacent redevelopment. Board member Joe Collier drew on private‑sector experience in Pasco County to highlight private partnership and hotel development opportunities, saying his team “ultimately built [a] 100,000‑foot indoor sports complex at a complex called Wiregrass Sportsplex” and attached a 128‑room hotel to that facility.

Staff next steps are to continue design coordination with the MOSI redevelopment team, city staff and development partners, refine cost and parking solutions, and return a full proposal and funding plan to the Board of County Commissioners for action. County staff and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission asked the council to remain involved as the project advances.

If the MOSI plan proceeds, staff also proposed sequencing the indoor facility before the larger outdoor baseball/softball complex, which would require a land assemblage of roughly 70–77 acres and additional road work.

The presentation did not include a binding County Commission vote by the TDC; staff said the Board of County Commissioners has recently authorized preliminary funding steps and that any final commitments will be subject to future BOCC approval and further public review.