SMR's major improvements to Premier Sports Campus bound to pay off
Manatee County's surging sports industry will likely witness another spike with an expansion of the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of the award-winning master-planned community, unveiled plans this month to erect 3,000 stadium seats, restrooms, a concession stand, medical room and meeting space, all within seven months.
Upon opening in April 2011, Premier earned a sterling reputation for its carpet-like grass stretching across 23 play fields on 145 acres. But spectators had to haul in lawn chairs or blankets to watch soccer and other sports. Portable toilets served visitors.
In commenting last week on the not so surprising jump in Manatee County's tourism industry, county Commissioner Vanessa Baugh cited the growth:
"And it's not just because of our beaches; it's the diversity we have in our county. The new thing right now is sports."
Indeed, as we've opined before, the county is blessed with economic engines such as the internationally renowned IMG Academy as well as Premier Sports, the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex and many other sports-related businesses.
Manatee County's economic development program supports business with monetary incentives and a rapid response initiative that fast-tracks growth. Sports performance is a growing sector and will continue to be one, Karen Stewart, the county's economic development program manager, told commissioners this week.
With major soccer tournaments coming up by year's end and a total of about 50 events throughout 2015, including music concerts and family activities, the Premier Sports Campus is proving its worth to the local economy -- and the appeal of Lakewood Ranch.
SMR's growing investment in the campus will boost the pressure for more hotels to serve sports tourism, another plus for the county's economy.
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "SMR's major improvements to Premier Sports Campus bound to pay off ."