{"id":1183,"date":"2026-05-20T13:38:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1183"},"modified":"2026-05-20T13:38:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:38:06","slug":"seminole-looks-to-new-indoor-events-complex-to-lure-visitors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1183","title":{"rendered":"Seminole looks to new indoor events complex to lure visitors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With hopes of cashing in on sports tourism, Seminole County commissioners took a\u00a0major step this month toward building a new indoor events complex near the Orlando Sanford International Airport by agreeing to search for architectural and engineering firms.<\/p>\n

Read more Wednesday is mostly sunny with showers and storms possible in the afternoon<\/a><\/p>\n

The proposed 178,000-square-foot facility, estimated to cost up to $175 million, is to sit on an old cow pasture and citrus grove west of East Lake Mary Boulevard and north of Moore\u2019s Station Road.<\/p>\n

The county\u2019s goal is to lure indoor athletic tournaments \u2014 including for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading and dance \u2014 into the county. Those events would draw fans, families and support staff for teams, which in turn would fill hotels, restaurants and county coffers.<\/p>\n

Supporters add the new indoor complex would provide Seminole County Public Schools with a venue to hold graduation ceremonies. The county currently lacks a large facility for such events, and Seminole high schools regularly hold commencement ceremonies at University of Central Florida\u2019s arena, which is in neighboring Orange County.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not competing with Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure \u2014 go right down the list \u2014 the [Orange County] Convention Center,\u201d Commissioner Bob Dallari said in support of the project. \u201cBut we want to grow sports tourism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commissioners agreed the county will now seek bids from architectural and engineering firms. It\u2019s not clear how much design plans would cost, but they would be part of the overall price tag.\u00a0 The county also will look into purchasing an adjacent five acre parcel for the parking lot.<\/p>\n

No construction timeline was provided, including when work crews would break ground and the facility completed.<\/p>\n

For the past decade, Seminole \u2014 which lacks the big-name theme parks that draw millions to Orange \u2014 has relied on amateur athletic tournaments to bring in visitors. The county currently markets nationally its six outdoor sports facilities, including the Boombah Sports Complex near the airport, as places to hold tournaments.<\/p>\n

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But county tourism staff and hoteliers say the number of visitors has grown stagnant in recent years, and a new indoor complex would expand the number of tournament offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hospitality industry has long recognized the limitations posed by the current lack of an indoor facility,\u201d said Melanie Anesh, of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association.<\/p>\n

In February, county officials projected tourist tax revenues would drop by $200,000 this year after its hotel occupancy rate dipped slightly to about 70% in 2025.<\/p>\n

According to preliminary plans, the complex would feature 12 basketball courts, including a championship court, that could be converted into 22 courts for volleyball and other events.<\/p>\n

Read more Thai \u2019em all: Exploring some fresh Orlando options<\/a><\/p>\n

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Plans show the facility could accommodate up to 7,500 guests for graduation ceremonies. It also would include a cafe and restaurant, several multi-purpose rooms, and a mezzanine that could serve as a walking track. Outside, plans show 25 sandy courts for beach volleyball, a sport gaining in popularity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea of having a dual event that has both indoor and outdoor beach volleyball\u00a0would be a huge game changer in this particular market,\u201d said Rick Durr, Seminole\u2019s director of parks and recreation.<\/p>\n

The size and layout of the facility \u201care flexible\u201d and could change, officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is still a concept drawing,\u201d Durr said.<\/p>\n

County estimates show in its first year, the indoor complex would host 32 tournaments over 67 days. That is projected to grow to 63 tournaments over 126 days in a decade.<\/p>\n

Beach volleyball matches would draw a total of 18,000 attendees in its first year, and 40,500 attendees after a decade, according to county projections.<\/p>\n

The indoor facility is projected to bring in just over $1.6 million in its first year, an income loss of $225,000, according to a county consultant\u2019s report. But by the fourth year, it would earn nearly $2 million, an income gain of $34,000.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated $175 million cost, $65 million \u2014 about 37% \u2014 would be paid for with revenue from the county\u2019s new tourism improvement district fee and tourist development tax. The remaining $110 million would come from the county\u2019s penny sales tax, which is an additional 1% tacked on by the county to the state\u2019s 6% sales tax.<\/p>\n

The new tourism improvement district fee was set up last year by commissioners to help pay for the facility. It allows hotels with at least 60 rooms to charge a $1.75 per-night fee in addition to the county\u2019s 5% hotel bed tax.<\/p>\n

For additional revenue, county officials proposed charging $5 for parking and giving a private entity naming rights for $100,000 a year.<\/p>\n

County officials acknowledged that if those revenue sources fell short of paying the complex\u2019 debt for the complex, Seminole may have to turn to property taxes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do support the project, but the revenue that\u2019s being generated into these funds has to come back to support the debt service,\u201d Commission Chair Andria Herr said.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Six lives on the line\u2019: Rescue on East Lake Toho highlights boat safety<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seminole County is looking to draw in sports tournaments and visitors with a new indoor sports complex near the Orlando Sanford International Airport.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSeminole looks to new indoor events complex to lure visitors - Orlando Relocation Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1183\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Seminole looks to new indoor events complex to lure visitors - 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