What Manatee County's $80M Sports Multiplex Could Mean for Lakewood Ranch

## A Big Sports Tourism Bet Moves Forward

Manatee County is moving ahead with a public-private proposal for an approximately $80 million indoor sports multiplex on county-owned land in Lakewood Ranch. The project, planned near the Lakewood Ranch Library at Premier Sports Campus North, would add a major indoor tournament and events venue to an area already known for youth sports, golf, polo, parks, and regional recreation.

The proposal was detailed by Business Observer reporter Elizabeth King in "$80M indoor sports multiplex moves ahead in Manatee County", published June 18, 2026. According to the article, Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved a motion supporting the public-private partnership and authorized county staff to keep advancing the business terms.

## What Is Being Proposed

The developer is Wesley Chapel-based Icemann Development, which would design, build, maintain, and operate the venue. The company has experience with large ice facilities, including AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel and TGH Iceplex near Brandon.

The Lakewood Ranch complex is expected to occupy roughly 190,000 square feet and include four sheets of ice, including one rink with about 2,500 permanent seats. The ice could also be covered for non-ice uses, opening the door for basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, consumer shows, tournaments, and community events.

The proposed mix also includes food and beverage service, a pro shop or retail component, orthopedic or medical services, and athletic training. If county officials authorize it, the building could also serve as an emergency shelter.

## Why the Location Matters

The site is tied to Premier Sports Campus North, off State Road 70 and east of the SR 70 and Lorraine Road growth corridor. That matters because the area is already becoming one of Manatee County's most important sports and community destinations.

For Lakewood Ranch residents, the multiplex would add something the community does not currently have at this scale: a year-round indoor sports venue that can support both local programming and destination tournaments. For nearby businesses, especially restaurants, hotels, medical providers, youth sports services, and retailers, the project could create more predictable event-driven traffic.

## The Public-Private Terms

The business terms reported by Business Observer include a 60-year land lease for a 22-acre county-owned parcel. The proposed lease would start at $1 per year for the first three years, move to $100,000 per year in year four, and then increase by 2% annually starting in year five unless fair market value declines.

The project also includes parking infrastructure. The article reports that free surface parking would be available, along with an 800-space paid parking garage funded by the private sector. Manatee County would receive 20% of gross parking garage revenue beginning in year two after opening.

The county's Tourist Development Council previously recommended up to $5 million for horizontal infrastructure through Tourist Development Tax funding on a reimbursement basis.

## The Timeline to Watch

The project still has key steps ahead. Based on the timeline shared in the Business Observer article, site plan approval is projected for October to December 2026, groundbreaking could come in January 2027, and completion could land between June and August 2028. The land lease itself is expected to return to commissioners for approval before then.

That means this is not a done-and-open project yet. It is a serious step forward in a longer approval and development process.

## Local Impact

Sports tourism is already a major part of Manatee County's economic strategy. The article cites county tourism figures describing sports tourism as a $400 million annual segment, with Premier Sports Campus generating about $100 million for the local economy in 2025. The proposed multiplex is projected to create a $30 million annual economic stimulus impact once built.

For Lakewood Ranch, the practical question is how the area absorbs that growth. More tournament traffic could benefit restaurants, hotels, shops, medical offices, and service businesses. It could also put more pressure on roads, parking patterns, public safety planning, and nearby neighborhood routines.

The best version of this project would connect the venue to surrounding businesses and civic assets while keeping traffic, signage, noise, and event operations predictable for residents.

## What Residents Should Follow Next

Residents and business owners should watch three next steps: the final lease language, the site plan approval process, and the transportation and parking details. Those will determine how the multiplex fits into the daily life of Lakewood Ranch, not just how it looks in a rendering.

If the project stays on schedule, Lakewood Ranch could be looking at a new regional sports anchor by summer 2028. That would be a meaningful shift for the community: not just more fields and outdoor events, but a year-round indoor venue built for tournaments, training, entertainment, and civic use.