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Commission directs staff to pursue MOSI site and $2 million design funds for indoor sports facility
Summary
After reviewing feasibility studies and site options, the board directed staff to pursue development of an indoor multi‑sport facility linked to the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) site, asked the Tampa Sports Authority to prepare a detailed budget and timeline, and designated $2 million in previously set‑aside BP funds to start design work.
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on May 7 to direct staff to prioritize a Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)‑linked site for an indoor multi‑sport complex and to begin initial design work funded by a $2 million allocation of previously reserved BP funds.
Greg Horwedel, deputy county administrator, presented staff’s site review, which examined West Shore, the county‑owned Tournament Sportsplex site and the MOSI property. Rob Higgins of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission summarized post‑construction outcomes for the existing Tournament Sportsplex and the findings of independent feasibility studies for both the indoor facility and a baseball/softball complex. “In advance of the construction of that complex, a feasibility study was done. That study predicted, that in the first 5 years of the facility, that, the complex would generate 150 events. Now... it actually produced a 61 events,” Higgins said, and noted the complex exceeded hotel room‑night predictions by a wide margin.
Staff said MOSI offers attributes that could make an indoor facility catalytic for redevelopment: adaptive reuse of existing structures to provide roughly 40,000 square feet of the needed indoor space in an integrated development, potential hotel support and shared parking structures. John Mueller said traffic and parking solutions would be central to any MOSI redevelopment plan but that the site could “very well be a catalyst for new development and also provide a boost to MOSI with increased visitation.”
Commissioner Ken Hagen (District 2), who led the motion, said building the indoor facility at MOSI could be “the most transformative economic development project Hillsborough County has ever been associated with” and moved that staff proceed with a MOSI‑preferred approach, ask the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA) to develop a detailed budget and timeline, consult with MOSI’s master developer and use the previously designated $2 million in BP funds for initial design work.
The motion passed 7‑0. Staff said the TSA and the Sports Commission would prepare more detailed budgets and timelines for board review; the board also left open consideration of a West Shore hotel‑led proposal if a formal offer with financial details is submitted.
