The rendering was in today's Trib which I no longer have, try to see if you can find it...
Rendering details fairgrounds vision
By MICHAEL SASSO
msasso@tampatrib.com
Published: February 27, 2010
TAMPA - The developer proposing a massive entertainment complex at the Florida State Fairgrounds envisions a project worth as much as $1 billion, with professional baseball and soccer stadiums and up to 2,600 hotel rooms, state and Florida State Fair Authority documents show.
The Tribune obtained a copy of a rendering of the fairgrounds project, which would be developed by Republic Land Development of Fairfax, Va. The rendering was done in January by WilsonMiller Inc., a large engineering and design firm based in Naples.
Republic Land has lined up some political heavyweights in the Tampa Bay region to help with its proposal, including former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and a real estate company tied to former Pinellas County Commission Chairman Ronnie Duncan. It expects to present its plan to the fair authority, which operates the fairgrounds at U.S. 301 and Interstate 4, in April.
Greco cautioned that the entire plan is very conceptual and may drastically change. He also stressed that, although the developers have contemplated a major-league baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, the stadium proposal is not driving the project.
The baseball stadium is "not motivating any of this," Greco said.
Instead, the developer wants to capitalize on retail and entertainment opportunities at the fairgrounds. The success of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino across the highway is a factor in the developer's interest, Greco said.
Among Republic Land's plans at the fairgrounds, according to the rendering and an economic impact study provided to the state, are:
Two stadiums. One 37,000-seat stadium could hold a professional baseball team and cost from $382.5 million to $517.5 million. The economic study assumes the stadium would be built to house the Rays. The documents do not suggest who would pay for the stadium.
The second stadium is labeled soccer/multi-event and would have 45,000 seats. It would hold either a Major League Soccer franchise or international soccer games, as well as other events.
Hotel resort. Republic Land proposes a 2,000-room hotel resort fronting I-4, plus smaller hotels adding 600 more rooms. Hotel development costs might run up to $225.4 million, the plan estimates.
Unnamed entertainment venue. The rendering shows an entertainment venue on the west side of the fairgrounds. Greco said it hasn't been determined what might go there, but it potentially could house a Cirque du Soleil-style theater that an entrepreneur is proposing for the fairgrounds.
Recently, Marco Veilleux, a French Canadian with ties to Cirque du Soleil, met with the fair authority to propose a theater that would feature dreamlike sets and life-size puppets.
The Outback Golf Experience. A very conceptual project, this might be a marriage of a restaurant and golf venue, Greco said. The rendering shows a lake into which people might hit golf balls. Greco said he thinks the name Outback was placed on there for no significant reason.
A spokeswoman for OSI Restaurant Partners of Tampa, which owns the Outback Steakhouse chain, had not heard of any plans at the fairgrounds.
This week, fair authority Chairman Sandy MacKinnon said the proposed development would still leave room to hold the annual fair, although it would require some new parking garages. To comply with bidding rules, the authority may have to allow other developers to submit similar proposals for such a project, he said.
Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/27/bz-rendering-details-fairgrounds-vision/
Rendering details fairgrounds vision
By MICHAEL SASSO
msasso@tampatrib.com
Published: February 27, 2010
TAMPA - The developer proposing a massive entertainment complex at the Florida State Fairgrounds envisions a project worth as much as $1 billion, with professional baseball and soccer stadiums and up to 2,600 hotel rooms, state and Florida State Fair Authority documents show.
The Tribune obtained a copy of a rendering of the fairgrounds project, which would be developed by Republic Land Development of Fairfax, Va. The rendering was done in January by WilsonMiller Inc., a large engineering and design firm based in Naples.
Republic Land has lined up some political heavyweights in the Tampa Bay region to help with its proposal, including former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and a real estate company tied to former Pinellas County Commission Chairman Ronnie Duncan. It expects to present its plan to the fair authority, which operates the fairgrounds at U.S. 301 and Interstate 4, in April.
Greco cautioned that the entire plan is very conceptual and may drastically change. He also stressed that, although the developers have contemplated a major-league baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, the stadium proposal is not driving the project.
The baseball stadium is "not motivating any of this," Greco said.
Instead, the developer wants to capitalize on retail and entertainment opportunities at the fairgrounds. The success of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino across the highway is a factor in the developer's interest, Greco said.
Among Republic Land's plans at the fairgrounds, according to the rendering and an economic impact study provided to the state, are:
Two stadiums. One 37,000-seat stadium could hold a professional baseball team and cost from $382.5 million to $517.5 million. The economic study assumes the stadium would be built to house the Rays. The documents do not suggest who would pay for the stadium.
The second stadium is labeled soccer/multi-event and would have 45,000 seats. It would hold either a Major League Soccer franchise or international soccer games, as well as other events.
Hotel resort. Republic Land proposes a 2,000-room hotel resort fronting I-4, plus smaller hotels adding 600 more rooms. Hotel development costs might run up to $225.4 million, the plan estimates.
Unnamed entertainment venue. The rendering shows an entertainment venue on the west side of the fairgrounds. Greco said it hasn't been determined what might go there, but it potentially could house a Cirque du Soleil-style theater that an entrepreneur is proposing for the fairgrounds.
Recently, Marco Veilleux, a French Canadian with ties to Cirque du Soleil, met with the fair authority to propose a theater that would feature dreamlike sets and life-size puppets.
The Outback Golf Experience. A very conceptual project, this might be a marriage of a restaurant and golf venue, Greco said. The rendering shows a lake into which people might hit golf balls. Greco said he thinks the name Outback was placed on there for no significant reason.
A spokeswoman for OSI Restaurant Partners of Tampa, which owns the Outback Steakhouse chain, had not heard of any plans at the fairgrounds.
This week, fair authority Chairman Sandy MacKinnon said the proposed development would still leave room to hold the annual fair, although it would require some new parking garages. To comply with bidding rules, the authority may have to allow other developers to submit similar proposals for such a project, he said.
Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/27/bz-rendering-details-fairgrounds-vision/