Sebring council reviews $14 million proposal to renovate Max Long sports complex

Jason Boodry of Synergy Sports told the Sebring City Council that his firm’s follow-up feasibility work shows the renovated Max Long complex could sustain about 30 tournament weekends a year and bring significant out-of-market visitation. “We estimate about 30 weekends of sports tourism based use,” Boodry said, adding later that the package projects roughly 50,000 new visitors and about $35–36 million in total economic impact over 10 years.

Boodry described the likely capital and operating framework: two national contractors provided guaranteed-maximum pricing not to exceed $14,000,000, a municipal leaseback or public-private partnership was modeled with an illustrative $1,000,000 annual lease payment, and a contracted management company would operate tournaments while preserving weekday local access. “Year one of new operations is your breakeven year,” Boodry said; the pro forma estimates about $450,000 average net income per year across the first 10 years, with reserves and contingencies included.

Council members pressed for concrete naming-rights and sponsorship comparables and for clarity about local users such as the YMCA and Sebring Youth Baseball. Josh (council member) said the naming-rights revenue is the linchpin of the finances; Boodry said national firms typically secure sponsorships and that a partner had reported actual naming-rights results about 14% higher than projections in comparable markets. The council asked Synergy to return with sponsorship comparables, and to organize on-site visits to facilities with similar operating models before taking further action.