TAMPA — What was once a largely underutilized stretch of county-owned land surrounding MOSI could eventually become one of Hillsborough County’s largest entertainment and sports destinations, and county leaders recently took another step toward making that vision a reality.
The board voted June 17 to allow the Tampa Sports Authority to begin negotiating a construction contract for the $70 million indoor field house, marking the latest milestone in a project officials say will anchor a $2 billion redevelopment on what has been an underused property, according to commissioners.
The 7-0 vote clears the way for TSA staff to negotiate with Suffolk Construction, the firm chosen as construction manager for the 178,000-square-foot facility located on Fowler Ave. near USF. If those negotiations fail, the second-ranked bidder, Turner Construction, could step in.
The field house is the centerpiece of a larger mixed-use redevelopment plan for the MOSI property. It includes plans for a mix of commercial, entertainment, restaurant, retail and high-end residential uses.
The field house will be supported by other attractions such as the MOSI planetarium, a black box theater, a film studio, a potential ice rink and a hotel. Commissioner Ken Hagan referred to it as an “entertainment wing.”
A longtime sports facility proponent, Hagan said he first pitched the value of sports venue projects back in 2012. He called the vote a “key checkpoint” in a process that has now included at least seven board discussions and votes dating back to the original feasibility study.
Hagan said that along with the nearby separate development of the USF golf course and new football stadium projects, the USF campus and surrounding area will be transformed.
“Today’s field house agenda item is the catalyst that will accelerate the $2 billion MOSI redevelopment project, and I think everyone associated with this project agrees this transformative project, along with USF golf course redevelopment and new stadium, will completely redefine the USF campus and surrounding area,” he said.
Much of the discussion about the latest steps for the fieldhouse involved finances, with statewide property tax reform and its effect of county revenue looming on the November ballot.
Hagan argued it differs from typical public facilities like libraries or fire stations because it generates its own revenue through hotel stays and visitor spending.
The project will be funded primarily with BP settlement dollars that were earmarked for this project years ago, and Community Investment Tax (CIT) dollars already listed in the CIT reauthorization package.
Deputy County Administrator Greg Horwedel said locating the field house on the MOSI property instead of building a standalone facility elsewhere is expected to save the county approximately $15 million.
To support the economic claims about the field house, which could cash in on the booming youth and club sports industry, Hagan cited the success of the county’s Tournament SportsPlex of Tampa Bay, which opened on Columbus Drive in Tampa.
Hagan said just based on tracking hotel room nights booked directly through tournament registration blocks, the SportsPlex began covering its own operating costs in its fourth year and generated roughly $2.8 million in bed tax revenue in 2025 alone. He said that number is probably higher, due to additional room nights not booked through the tournaments and local sales tax revenue that is untracked.
Consultants originally projected 43,000 room nights at the SportsPlex in 2023, and it delivered more than 74,000. The MOSI field house is projected for around 44,000 room nights by year three. Hagan said the same consultant who studied the SportsPlex has projected the new field house at MOSI would break even on operational costs by its second or third year.
Commissioner Josh Wostal said the field house project should be evaluated on its own outside of any property tax debates.
“This one’s going to have a very clear revenue stream that’s very easily proven around the nation when it comes to travel (sports) facilities,” he said. “I believe that it will easily sustain itself and supplement the property tax issue without having to do huge mental gymnastics on whether or not we’re going to have a return on investment.” Commissioner Chris Boles pressed staff on the timeline for the adjacent hotel, which he said needs to keep pace with the field house given the number of athletes and families it is expected to draw. Horwedel said the hotel likely won’t break ground at the same time but should follow shortly thereafter.
Horwedel said a more concrete timeframe may be available around August as the project’s rezoning with the City of Tampa concludes and more detailed plans are drawn up.
He added that the current suite plans include separate temporary parking and visitor access so as not to interfere with MOSI’s current operations, another concern Boles raised.
The county has already spent $3 million of the $5 million the board previously approved for design work. The remaining money will be available when the project moves into construction.
Construction is targeted to begin in late fall, with an estimated 18-month buildout leading to an anticipated opening in summer 2028.