The Sports Force's driving force

SANDUSKY — They don't play baseball, lacrosse, soccer or softball together.But since April a group of about 100 construction workers have come together as a team to build quite possibly the area's most important project in decades.Take a drive down Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) between Sandusky and Huron to see a completely changed corridor.Once-barren land now features structures, light poles, outfield fencing and, in some spots, green turf covering playing surfaces."We've been doing a lot of work, but people now have a visual to show how we're moving forward," said Brian Storm, president and CEO of The Sports Force.The Georgia-based management company is investing, supervising and managing this $23.5 million multi-stadium complex, known as Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center. After breaking ground in April, several rainy days greeted about 100 construction workers at the 57-acre site.But the warmer weather paired with a relentless commitment from contractors since then makes executives feel confident about finishing all work by fall and debuting this complex for youth tournament games come springtime."We have great employees in our company and great people on this job," said Storm, who supervises the workers. "We've been very fortunate with all the local people working with us on this job. The collaborative work is a testament to the local marketplace in terms of the people who are helping put together a major project in a short time frame." Sports, family and funEarlier this week, Storm invited the Register to tour Sports Force's new complex, which encompasses 10 fields either exclusively or adaptable for baseball, lacrosse, soccer and softball play.Like at their other parks across the U.S., company executives will recruit youth teams nationwide to compete and play in Erie County.Storm expects the thousands of annual visitors to spark the local economy, as they'll spend money at local lodges, retail centers, restaurants and other entertainment venues.He then delved deeper into the specific clientele Sports Force wants to attract when games begin in April 2017.Storm said about 50 million kids play organized sports a year. Of that amount:• About 20 percent compete in highly competitive leagues and tournament games.• The remaining 80 percent is a demographic The Sports Force targets. "Would we be happy to have a kid play here that becomes the next big prospect for the Detroit Tigers? Oh heck yeah," Storm said. "We would love to say that kid played here. But that is not our target market. There are parks that only cater to upper echelon athletes, but we are not one of those parks."Storm then explained who Sports Force primarily seeks out."We want mom, dad and the 2.5 kids to play here and combine their vacations with a sports trip," Storm said. "When one of the kids is playing, mom, dad and (the siblings) have plenty of options for entertainment. We are going to have a playground here. We will have (miniature) golf here. There will be a myriad of things to do at the park in addition to sitting on an aluminum bleacher and watching the game."Sports Force hammered out a partnership with Cedar Point to offer all tournament participants with amusement park passes."We want to keep families here for a week, where they can play games, hang out here and go to Cedar Point," Storm said. "We cater to sports, family and fun. The park is dedicated as much to the families and their experience and the destination as opposed to elite athleticism." Making sense of the dollars and centsA breakdown of how the $23.5 million complex will be funded:• $3.5 million: money from Cedar Point buying the former Griffing Sandusky Airport site and contributing it to the project• $3 million: money from The Sports Force• $17 million: money from local and state officials raising the countywide bed tax — also called the hotel-motel or lodging tax, it's a fee tacked onto overnight stays — rate by 2 percentGuests staying at any hotel, motel or lodge within Erie County must pay 7 percent in tax, up from 5 percent.Note: The Sports Force will be responsible for all maintenance costs once construction is completed.Source: Register research Economic impactProject stakeholders envision families planning their summer vacations around a week's worth of games. The tourists would then stimulate the local economy.They would also indirectly subsidize local services benefiting area residents.When kids aren't competing, they and their families would visit and spend money at area entertainment venues, such as Cedar Point, stores and restaurants. The tax dollars generated, via tacked on sales and admissions fees, would enter the local budgets of Sandusky, Huron, Perkins Township and other area communities.Among some estimated figures of how the local area would perform by 2020:• $56.9 million: in additional annual income throughout Erie County, broken down by:— $15.8 million in lodging— $10 million in entertainment— $9.6 million in food and beverage— $8.4 million in event-related expenses— $5.1 million in transportation— $3.5 million in shopping— $4.5 million in other spending• $1.7 million: in additional annual income through the admissions and bed taxes• 111,000: in additional annual visitors specifically coming to the complex• 80,000: in additional annual hotel stays; Right now, there are about 800,000 hotel stays a year in Erie County• 900: in new jobs related to the complex's existence, including opportunities at restaurants, hotels and the sports complex What's included at Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center?The amenities are broken up into two major categories:1. Sports (10 multi-purpose fields in total)• "Championship" soccer field• "Championship" baseball/softball stadium• 8 full-sized soccer fields and 16 youth soccer fields• 4 NCAA regulation baseball fields• 7 to 11 youth baseball/softball fields• 8 NCAA regulation lacrosse fields• Sport-specific training areas• Handicap accessible community use field2. Family• 18-hole miniature golf course• Trampoline park• Centrally located food court• Great lawn• Movies in the park• Competition skill challenge zone• Multiple playgrounds• Ropes course• Sports and vendor villageSource: The Sports Force