Collier County’s Paradise Coast Sports Complex, which opened in July 2020, has been forced to use other county park fields for events during peak season as it struggles to accommodate increasing demand.

As a result, the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 13 voted 3-1, with Commission Chairman Chris Hall opposed, to provide an analysis on how the county can move forward with Phase 3, a ninth field and a building. In a 3-2 vote, with Hall and Commissioner Dan Kowal voting nay, commissioners asked staff to begin an evaluation to provide recommendations on Phases 4 and 5, including 11 fields, and whether it would be beneficial to conduct another feasibility study. County staff will provide that information to commissioners next month.

The update and report on the complex, located off Collier Boulevard near Interstate-75 in East Naples, was requested by Commission Vice Chairman Burt Saunders, who noted that as the county focuses on priority-based budgeting, it’s considering shifting Tourist Development Tax dollars from promotions into projects.

The complex’s construction was funded by tourist taxes collected from hotel and vacation stays. At least 40% of those tax revenues are spent to promote and advertise tourism.

“I know there’s going to be a lot of discussion about different possibilities for different projects, but I wanted to see if we could make this one No. 1 on the list,” Saunders said. “The rationale for that is that we’re using tourist tax dollars to build what is essentially a super-regional park.”

There were numerous delays during construction, due to causes including the pandemic, Hurricane Ian, supply and labor shortages, changes in scope, contract amendments and cost increases that caused contractor disputes. Manhattan Construction lost subcontractors after not being paid and faced numerous lawsuits; its costs reached $15.6 million. The county settled in July 2023 for $11.3 million, ending the 2019 contract.

Saunders noted that Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, which is open as phased construction continues, will cost $160 million to $170 million.

“That’s a big, big number, but this park is a real gem and I’d like to see us finish it off,” he said of Paradise Coast Sports Complex. “… This will provide a real facility that will greatly enhance the athletic opportunities for our children and families. With professional soccer there, this facility is becoming a nationally known venue.”

Saunders read a letter by the Collier County chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, which strongly supported completion of phases 3 and 4 due to the boost in tourism. Saunders noted that its support was important because lodging facilities, owners and managers typically want to spend as much money on advertising and promotion as they can, “but they’re recognizing the benefit of this.”

Commission Chair Chris Hall said he wants data showing the anticipated return on investment, including numbers on eventgoers, participants, parking spaces, hotel stays and economic impact. “I’m not going to be excited about putting the public in debt to get some extra softball fields in or to get a $9 million double field,” he said, adding that he wants “real figures.”

Commissioner Rick LoCastro noted that the county doesn’t have unlimited Tourist Development Council funds so it needs to set priorities because that tax money could be used elsewhere. He suggested considering a public- private partnership for a parking garage.

“We suck up an enormous amount of available space for horizontal parking,” he said, adding that the county could build a parking tower or parking garage facility that would allow the community to store vehicles during hurricanes. “I would like to have a discussion as we are doing this future analysis with regard to at least one parking garage, maybe two, and free up some of the parking spaces or field spaces that are being utilized for parking.”

The complex is expected to cost $150 million once completed. The first phases feature nine rectangular synthetic turf fields, including a 3,500-seat, multipurpose stadium. Other draws are the Cove Beer & Wine Bar and The Factory open-air fitness pavilion, which includes an obstacle course, weight room and running trails with workout stations. Plans are to grow to 21 full-size rectangle and diamond fields.

Phase 3 includes a field and building, a south parking lot and restrooms. Construction could start in fall 2025, take 12-18 months and cost $9 million to $10 million. Phase 4, which will cost $40 million to $50 million, includes 11 multipurpose fields: five for softball, Little League, mini-soccer, football and lacrosse, and six for baseball, soccer, football and lacrosse, in addition to restrooms and other facilities.

The final design is expected to include a welcome center, concession stands, restrooms, a trophy presentation plaza, marketplace, storage and maintenance buildings and an outdoor amphitheater, which would reduce the number of fields.

Under management by Clearwater-based Sports Facilities Companies, which took over in 2021, the complex turned a profit for the first time last fiscal year, more than doubling revenues to $2.09 million and drawing about 295,000 visitors. In addition to hosting various major tournaments, including football, soccer and lacrosse, the complex offers local events, such as movies, concerts and Easter egg hunts.

The complex’s general manager, Adrian Moses, told commissioners the fields can’t meet the demand, so the organization has been using fields at Big Corkscrew Island and North Collier regional parks.

“We have to lean on the county parks to be able to accommodate and take full advantage of the sports tourism dollars that those events bring,” Moses said, adding that there’s a shortage of fields countywide. “We’re essentially taking those fields away from local use during those weekend events.”

He said the economic impact of the complex for this fiscal year is between $40 million and $50 million for 34 events so far, with four more to come before Oct. 1, adding, “Ultimately, the development of these additional fields allows us to flatten out our performance over the year at a very high level and provide a consistent return to Collier County in terms of the performance of the facility and the economic impact that it drives.”