Fifteen years after the Cincinnati Reds left Plant City for Sarasota, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World will once again be the home of a professional sports team.
At least through the end of September.
Plant City commissioners agreed March 25 to pursue a short-term lease agreement for Plant City Stadium with VisionPro Sports Institute Inc.
VisonPro currently boasts four United Soccer League franchises, including a USL Pro squad. The other teams include VisionPro’s squads in the PDL League (under 23), the Super 20s (under 20) and the W-League (women).
All four teams will play their home games in Plant City, something commissioners hope will translate into more dollars flowing into the local economy through hotel stays, restaurants and other travel necessities.
VisionPro will rent the stadium at $10,000 per month. To convert the stadium from a softball field, the company has hired Turf Keepers to remove the existing clay area and replace it with appropriate sod and irrigation. VisionPro also will reconfigure the outfield fencing and add bleachers to the outfield, as well as temporary visiting-team locker room facilities. The company will manage concessions and also costs associated with matches, including police, fire rescue, striping and equipment.
Plant City Recreation and Parks Department Director Jack Holland and City Manager Greg Horwedel said they are pleased with the agreement.
“At $10,000 per month, we think this is a good bargain from our perspective,” Horwedel said.
Holland said VisionPro’s presence would not have any significant effect on the tournaments and events the city is scheduled to host this summer. Furthermore, the city still will be able to host its Fourth of July celebration at the stadium.
VSI had previously used Florida College as its home. The organization was in the process of examining other sites, but after those opportunities fell through, the organization contacted Plant City. It needs something quickly — VSI’s USL Pro team’s home opener is scheduled for April 13.
Director of Soccer Clay Roberts, a Plant City High School alumnus, said his organization is excited about the new partnership.
“This opportunity is great for us,” he said. “We’d love to be here. Soccer is a growing sport, and I graduated from Plant City, so I know this community well.”
This short-term lease will not affect the city’s current process of trying to find a permanent tenant or new owner for the stadium. The city currently is accepting proposals for the site, but Horwedel said he anticipates that process will take at least three months.
VisionPro is interested in submitting a bid to become a long-term tenant of the stadium. The organization hopes to build a VSI international residential training academy, with three feeder satellite academy facilities in Tampa Bay.
Commissioner Rick Lott, whose daughter, Ericka, is a soccer standout for Plant City High School, said he is familiar with the VisionPro organization.
“They sponsor lots of youth clubs throughout the Tampa Bay area, and it’s a feeder program to MLS,” he said. “It is my hope that this lasts longer than six months. At the very least, it’s another option to put something in the stadium that benefits Plant City.”
If VSI does not extend its stay in Plant City, it will cover the cost to convert the stadium back into a softball facility.
MIDTOWN UPDATE
Commissioners also made their first recommendation on what will become a cornerstone of the Midtown project.
The commission voted March 25 to pursue proposals for a destination-style park for Midtown. City officials had drafted three options — a simple greenspace, one that included a sidewalk trail and a third with a fountain or other feature. Commissioners opted to pursue the most elaborate — and at an estimate cost of $123,684, the most expensive — option.
“Since we’ve stepped this way (to develop a Midtown), why not do it right?” said Vice Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis. “(This option) is beautiful. It has nice pizzazz.”
The three plans were only offered as concepts. The city now will seek outside proposals for actual designs that could be implemented in Midtown.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• Southwest Florida Water Management District Government Affairs Program Manager Estella Gray accepted a proclamation from Mayor Mike Sparkman declaring April 2013 as Water Conservation Month in Plant City.
• The commission awarded a $194,099.30 contract to Central Concrete Products Inc. to construct the Mendonsa Road sidewalk from Alexander Street to Hunter Street.