County commissioners are moving forward with a developer’s plan to build a $70 million to $80 million, 22-acre indoor sports multiplex at the county-owned Premier Sports North Campus northeast of I-75 and north of S.R. 70.
Commissioners voted on June 16 to authorize the county administrator to develop an agreement with Wesley Chapel-based Icemann Development LLC and bring business terms, a land lease and an operating agreement to the board for consideration.
The Lakewood Ranch complex would provide stable, year-round income to the county in the form of fees from the 800-space parking garage, Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, told commissioners.
The complex will conservatively produce $30 million a year in economic stimulus, Falcione said, based on an estimate by the county’s tourism consultant.
It is scheduled to break ground in January 2027 with a completion date of June-August 2028.
Known as “Project Grace,” with final naming rights reserved to the developer with commission approval, the complex will feature four ice rinks that can be used for tournaments in figure skating, ice hockey and curling with the ability to cover the ice for basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, concerts and other events, including use as a hurricane shelter.
Icemann would build, operate, manage and maintain the complex under the proposed business terms, which include a 60-year ground lease with one 30-year extension option and the county retaining land ownership. Rent would be $1 a year for the first three years, then $100,000 a year in the fourth year, with a 2% annual rent increase in year five and beyond. The county would receive 20% of the gross parking garage revenues after the developer recovers the cost of county impact fees.
Up to $5 million in tourist tax revenues are available to reimburse IceMann for stormwater and parking infrastructure, with unanimous support by the Tourist Development Council.
“We’ve done this before in Hillsborough County and Pasco County,” said Gordie Zimmerman, CEO and co-founder of Icemann Development, which designed and managed Ice Sports Forum, now TGH Iceplex, a practice facility for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and co-owner of AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, among other sports projects. “We’ve got a lot of experience in the building process.”
“I think it’s going to drive a lot of tourism dollars,” Commissioner George Kruse said, adding the project has been in the works for five years.
Cindy Lane is a staff writer for the Tampa Bay Beacons. She can be reached at clane@tbnweekly.com.