Seminole County has authorized the next step for a major regional indoor sports complex planned near the Boombah Sports Complex and Orlando Sanford International Airport. County officials voted to allow staff to begin soliciting architectural, engineering, and construction management services, moving the proposal from concept toward formal design and procurement. Current estimates place the project cost in the range of $160 million to $175 million.
The envisioned facility is positioned as a multi-purpose regional destination capable of hosting a wide array of sporting and community activities. Conceptual plans call for support of basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer and dance competitions, along with graduations, banquets, and other large-scale community events. Early programming outlines up to 12 basketball courts and 22 volleyball courts, paired with championship seating and flexible event space to accommodate different configurations and event sizes.
In addition to the indoor courts, the plan currently includes a significant outdoor component with a 25-court beach volleyball complex. The combined indoor and outdoor offerings are intended to support tournament play and multi-day events that can draw visitors from outside the immediate area. The project is being framed as a regional asset that leverages existing nearby sports infrastructure and proximity to an international airport.
Funding for the proposed complex will rely on tourism-related revenue streams rather than traditional property tax sources. Tourist Improvement District funding and Tourist Development Tax revenues are slated to support the project, aligning the facility’s costs with the visitor economy it is expected to serve. Hotels in the surrounding area have also agreed to a self-assessment on room revenue to help finance the development, further tying the project’s capital stack to hospitality performance.
Economic impact projections associated with the facility are substantial. The complex is expected to generate approximately $2.4 billion in total net economic benefit over time. That figure includes direct visitor spending at hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments, as well as revenue for local transportation providers. County leaders are positioning the project as a catalyst for increased tourism-driven activity, with the sports complex serving as a platform for recurring tournaments and events that feed demand across the local hospitality and service sectors.
With the recent vote, the County’s immediate focus shifts to procuring design and construction management professionals, refining the program, and advancing the project through subsequent stages of planning. While timelines and delivery milestones have not yet been detailed, the authorization signals that the County is committed to advancing the recreation center concept and formalizing the scope and execution strategy for this large-scale sports and events facility.
