The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), a leader in sports and recreation venue management, is excited to announce its selection by the city of Pinellas Park as the operating partner for the Tampa Bay region's newest outdoor sports complex, Sprowls Horizon Sports Park. Set to open in the summer of 2025, the state-of-the-art facility is designed to offer an immersive experience for youth baseball and softball teams that’s all about the youthful fun of spring training baseball while driving economic impact and serving the local community.
“It's a big deal for the city of Pinellas Park and the entire region because currently, you're not coming here for the beaches,” said Pinellas Park City Manager Bart Diebold. “But this is now a destination. You're coming to Pinellas Park to play baseball and softball.”
Strategically located in the heart of Pinellas County, the complex will feature six baseball fields, meticulously designed as replicas of renowned spring training fields, complemented by expansive outdoor green spaces. These fields are also built to accommodate soccer fields. Additionally, the venue includes a full-sized soccer field, an outdoor roller hockey rink, and a community plaza.
From its inception, a key champion for this project has been former Florida Speaker of the House, Chris Sprowls, emphasizing the importance of such facilities in enhancing community vitality and sports tourism.
“Three years from now, when we’re here, it’ll be filled with kids and families. It will be a destination for people, not just here in Pinellas County, not just in the state of Florida, but for the nation,” said Sprowls. “The things we do for kids, the memories we help facilitate, are the things that last forever– Because they will take that, and they will insist that their children get the same opportunities to make memories and have experiences as they had. That will be our lasting legacy.”
As a development partner, SFC will work with construction partner Park & Eleazer to ensure that the sport-specific aspects of the design vision are executed. As the operating partner for Sprowls Horizon Sports Park, SFC will manage daily operations, including marketing and booking, staffing and training, guest services, and maintenance. SFC will also oversee brand and logo development for the venue, ensuring a cohesive and memorable identity for visitors. Named in recognition of Chris Sprowls and the state's invaluable support, this facility will stand as a testament to collaboration and community spirit.
“Interviewing different companies for this project, nobody stood out to us like Sports Facilities Companies. It’s a pinnacle thing,” added City Manager Bart Diebold. “From day one, it's been nothing but help and good support. It's been a great team effort.”
“Our organization has worked with around 3,000 communities across the country. It’s a great joy to be able to do that work,” said SFC Founder & CEO Jason Clement. “We’ve never been able to develop something in Pinellas County, so I'm grateful to our county leadership here as well. These complexes don’t just happen– It takes a team, it takes a collaborated effort, and the people being celebrated today truly deserve it.”
To learn more about the Sports Facilities Companies, please visit the website at sportsfacilities.com. Stay tuned on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates, programs, and job postings.
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