Title
City of Gainesville Sports Arena (B)
This item recommends that the City Commission select one of two Sports Arena proposals and authorize its submission in a Request for Proposals requested by Alachua County for establishment of a Tourist Venue.
Explanation
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from municipalities for the purpose of constructing a capital project (facility) that promotes Tourism within Alachua County. Request for Proposals are due to Alachua County no later than 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 17, 2006.
Funding would come from an additional one percent (1%) Bed Tax levied on all Alachua County lodging, estimated to produce $550,000 annually. This anticipated annual amount could be bonded for twenty years generating a maximum of $6,000,000. The types of projects (facilities) that would qualify are publicly owned and operated venues such as:
Convention Centers Zoological Parks
Sports Arenas Fishing Piers
Sports Stadiums Nature Centers
Coliseums Museums
Auditoriums
City staff evaluated a number of options and felt that Sports Arenas can have a significant financial impact on local tourism and are known entities that draw youth and adult sports teams competing in local, regional and national amateur sporting events. It is felt that the City of Gainesville is ideally positioned within the State of Florida and would likely draw participants from an approximate five-hour driving radius or as far north as Atlanta, GA and as far south as Miami, Florida.
Therefore staff is proposing that the City of Gainesville submit an RFP to Alachua County for the construction of a Sports Arena to be located at one of two possible sites. Site One would be the Citizen's Field Sports Complex located at Waldo Road and 8th Avenue and involves expanding the existing 13,000...
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