This New Project Aims to Expand and Extend PCB’s Sports Season

Diamonds Are … For Economic Development

Sports is big business in Bay County — and it’s about to get even bigger.

Visit Panama City Beach, The St. Joe Company and the Bay County School Board are joining forces in a unique public-private partnership to improve life in and the economy of Panama City Beach by developing a world-class sports village and a new K-8 school on the east side of town.

Agreed to in concept and waiting on a final agreement, the project will be built on about 210 acres of land St. Joe has agreed to donate on the east end of Breakfast Point. The first phase of the $15 million sports project will focus on rectangle fields for competitions such as lacrosse, soccer and flag football. Several fields will have multipurpose capabilities to host full-size baseball and softball tournaments. The lead designer on the project is The Sports Force, which will begin working on a master plan once a land survey is completed this fall.

“Events such as major softball and baseball tournaments bring in hundreds of teams to the region, and this facility with rectangle fields will attract even more large competitions,” said Richard Sanders, vice president of sports marketing for Visit Panama City Beach. “The new sports village is a cornerstone to increasing year-round business for hotels, restaurants and attractions — a home run for the entire community."

courtesy of Panama City Beach CVB

Events such as USFA softball and Grand Slam baseball bring more than 1,000 teams to the region already. Current sports facilities generate $75 million and draw 250,000 visitors to Panama City Beach annually, resulting in at least 100,000 room nights. It is anticipated that while visiting, an adult spends $150 per day and each child, $75.

“Sports have become a major part of the Panama City Beach experience, and our scenic coastal setting is a natural draw for athletes and fans alike from across the country,” said Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe. “Having a coalition of the tourism community, the private sector and local schools helps all the residents of Panama City Beach.”

The new location, targeted for completion in spring 2017, is located away from current facilities, so sports-related traffic will be spread more evenly through town and “help mitigate some of the traffic congestion,” Rowe said. The complex will be accessed through a 10-acre tract of land on Panama City Beach parkway that was purchased by the Convention and Visitors Bureau with funds received from BP damages and tourist development taxes.

Until now, the 200-acre, 40-year-old Frank Brown Park — built on land also donated by St. Joe — has been the sole local host for the annual games, but hundreds of teams are being turned away each year because there isn’t room to accommodate them.

“We’ve always been big on making community investments,” said Jorge Gonzalez, senior vice president of development for St. Joe, who said the company was at first approached separately by school and tourism officials. “Every asset in the community is good for everybody, including ourselves. This one in particular. We do have a Breakfast Point residential project about 1.5 miles away and Breakfast Point Academy, which is at capacity. So there is need for additional room on the school side, and the sports complex makes sense.”

It is likely the school could take up to five years and $30 million to complete, but it will relieve the school district’s growing pains and crowded beach schools when it does open.

“This is an exemplary partnership, which is of great benefit to our students, parents and community,” said Bay County Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt. “We welcome this multifaceted plan that offers solutions to address concerns brought on by tremendous growth on Panama City Beach.”

As plans are underway for the new park, Frank Brown Park will also be getting about $4 million in updates to ensure its continued attractiveness to competitive sports teams. Groups such as the World Softball League and U.S. Fast Pitch Association have games scheduled throughout the year, with some having already scheduled tournaments at the park into 2016. 

“We want to enhance the spectator experience and provide some refreshing for the entire facility,” Rowe said. “It has been a wonderful asset for us for years and we want to make sure it stays as one of the best venues for people to come and play on.”

The new sports complex will be able to handle overflow from those tournaments while hosting its own, giving the city more opportunities to stretch the tournament season year-round. The new complex will have rectangular fields that can be used for a variety of sports that are played in the shoulder seasons.

“It allows us to drive business in the fall and the spring,” Rowe explained, adding that the city is also hoping to attract a pro team for spring training. “The rectangular fields will ensure everyone who is out there playing feels like it’s a facility built for them, whether they are playing lacrosse, soccer, baseball or fast pitch softball.”