Sportspark may cost more to maintain than expected

While the grand opening is less than a week away, county commissioners heard Monday that staff are figuring out it could cost $800,000 more a year to clean and maintain. Commissioners have stated goals of making the Sportspark a year-round event center and a regional draw for sporting events and tournaments.

Commissioners expressed surprise that these numbers were just coming forward after a lot of strategic planning has already gone into the Sportspark. But some like Carlos Leon say the county has to be willing to keep the facility in top shape.

“We are actually going to be bringing in revenue because of some of the facilities,” Leon said, “that are offered there at the Sportspark, like the batting cages. We are going to have pouring rights. We are going to have naming rights. So it’s a whole change for what – for the county as opposed to what we’ve been used to.”

Commissioners will be deciding at Thursday’s meeting if and how to fund the extra maintenance through the end of the fiscal year in August. The Sportspark grand re-opening will be held Saturday. Commissioners also voted Monday to waive all entry fees for the celebration.