Minor league baseball in PCB?

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted Tuesday to further explore a partnership that could be a major game-changer for sports in Panama City Beach.

Local attorney William Harrison outlined during the council’s Tuesday meeting a potential public-private partnership to bring in a minor league baseball team and new sports facilities to the destination. Harrison began working with a private group 18 months ago to explore the feasibility of expanding recreational opportunities on the beach, which included extensive research and consulting.

“What we’ve proposed and what we’re considering is … the construction of a minor league baseball stadium in Panama City Beach,” said Harrison, noting a number of options for teams and locations. “We have gone as far as we can go without this public discussion, as to whether there’s a desire … to pursue some big things that we have not experienced in Bay County in a long time.”

Harrison said construction of a minor league stadium would cost about $30 million, feature 4,000 seats and have room for 1,500 fans in outfield seating. The team’s season would include 70 home games between April and August.

Harrison also cited a bill recently passed by the Florida Legislature that would free up stadium construction funds for Florida sports franchises. The bill is awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature and would include a competitive application process if it becomes law, Harrison said.

In addition to the minor league team, the group’s proposal included new facilities for both outdoor and indoor amateur sports to grow the area’s capability to host tournaments.

“There are different components, but ideally it would be a conglomerate project,” said Harrison, noting construction of the complexes could begin as soon as next year, with about two years needed for the minor league team. “Our goal, we understand, is the same as your goal, which is putting heads on beds.”

Harrison said the groups with whom he has been working intend to target a new and different demographic than Panama City Beach’s existing tournament market at Frank Brown Park, one with a higher family income.

“It’s a different economic level on a per-family basis,” Harrison said. “We believe it’s more beneficial if we’re successful in attracting a different demographic that doesn’t distract from what Panama City Beach is doing.”

Board response

With the fields at Frank Brown Park at maximum capacity during the summer, the board did not dispute the need for additional facilities but was wary about how the new facilities would affect current business.

“We can’t do it at the cost of the business we built over the last 10 to 15 years,” said board member Andy Phillips. “It has to meet the needs of the (TDC). That’s got to be critical.”

According to data from the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), sporting events generate $55 million in direct spending from out-of-state visitors every year, and about 100,000 annual room nights.

Citing emerging competition in nearby destinations, Richard Sanders, vice president of sports and special events for the CVB, said an indoor sports facility is very important for the destination’s future.

“We need to build,” Sanders said. “We’ve got competition building around us and a good partner is a good thing to have.”

Ultimately, the board showed support for the partnership, and approved moving forward with the process to better outline each party’s goals.

The TDC has been building up funds to expand sports facilities for the last several years, with $3.4 million set aside so far for tourism development projects and another $4.3 million from a final settlement with BP.

“We were just sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to react and this is it,” said TDC member Yonnie Patronis. “I want to keep the flare lit and keep the ball moving and seize the opportunity in front of us.”