Osceola County Commissioners Approve Agreements to Move Forward with Amateur Athletic Fields

Osceola County, Florida - At their March 14, 2011 regular Board meeting, Osceola County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve two agreements that are the next steps in bringing additional amateur ball fields, conference center space and hotel rooms to Osceola County.

"The decisions we made as a Board today will have enormous impacts as we continue to look for ways to create jobs, diversify our economy and forge ahead with successful partnerships," said Osceola County Chairman Brandon Arrington. "We took the right steps toward stimulating our local economy and placing Osceola County as a major partner in amateur sports."

The agreement approved Monday between Osceola County, Gaylord Hotels Incorporated and Rida Associates Limited Partnership (ChampionsGate), amends and re-states the 2008 "Tourism Facilities Development" agreement between Osceola County, Gaylord Hotels, Inc., Opryland Hotel - Florida Limited Partnership doing business as Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center Florida, and Rida Associates Limited Partnership. It provides for conference center space, hotel rooms, and construction and operation of amateur athletic fields.

As approved, Rida will be responsible to construct 55,000 square feet of "Class A" conference center space with sports / field house capabilities, a 150 room limited service hotel, and 8 amateur athletic fields as phase one of a two phase operation.

"This is a great opportunity for the three partners - Osceola County, ChampionsGate and Gaylord - to re-engage our developments and conference center initiatives in an effort to let us stay competitive in the marketplace," said Rida Development Senior Vice-President Marc Reicher. "This will now allow us to get a jumpstart and do some real planning in moving toward economic recovery."

Both Gaylord and Rida were also granted extensions to demonstrate the availability for private (non-county) funding from February 1, 2011 to February 1, 2014.

Construction of the conference center and the athletic fields at ChampionsGate should begin within the next 14 months.

In a separate item, approval of the sale-leaseback agreement with Birchwood Acres Limited Partnership, LLLP, provided for the construction and operation of amateur athletic fields in the Harmony development.

Birchwood will construct eight ball fields, support facilities, a four-lane access road, parking and all other amenities associated with the project, at an estimated cost of $17,700,000. Once completed, the county will acquire the improved property for $7.5 million and lease it back to Birchwood for $450,000 a year.

Birchwood is guaranteeing 38,888 room nights the first year; 47,222 the second, and 55,000 for every year thereafter and failure to meet the guarantee reduces Birchwood's lease term.

Construction will begin within 12 months and is scheduled to complete by mid-December 2013.

For more information, please contact the Osceola County Community Outreach/Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.