By Steve Lee

First came Wesley Chapel District Park, which provided local boys and girls opportunities to pursue such outdoor sports as football, baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County takes that concept to the next level with a planned $44 million indoor facility targeting a July opening.

The 98,000-square-foot center in Wesley Chapel, funded by the county’s tourist tax proceeds, will be equipped with bio-cushioned hardwood regulation courts for basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, wrestling, soccer, futsal, mixed martial arts, cheerleading and dance.

Plans also call for a training area, meeting space and concessions at the site, which is northeast of the Shops at Wiregrass. Soccer fields will be ready for the first phase with more fields planned for a second phase. Plus, there will be room for a lawn events area with a stage.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore noted how beneficial the facility will be to local and county residents and businesses.

“As people visit our community for gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling tournaments and more, they will travel with their families, stay in Pasco County hotels, shop in Pasco County stores, and eat in Pasco County restaurants, helping our businesses of all sizes grow,” he said. “This is a public asset that is not just for visitors. During the week, there will be local programming available to our residents.”

RADDSports, based in Sarasota, will operate the facility, which is being built by contractor Ajax Building Corporation. The concept emerged after previous discussions for a tennis complex, as well as fields for baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse. The Porter family, which has previously dispersed land for road expansions and schools, donated 80 acres for the project.

“I am greatly appreciative of all the hard work it is taking to make the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County a reality,” Moore said. “From the Porter family donating the land to Pasco County, to the support of my fellow Commissioners and Tourist Development Council members, the Experience Florida’s Sports Coast team, RaddSports, our construction contractors at Ajax Building, and everyone else involved that will make this facility a success for our community.”