The Tampa Bay Sun announced on Tuesday plans to build a stadium on Ybor City’s waterfront.
Why it matters: The stadium would be one of the first built for a women’s professional soccer team and serve as an “anchor” for Ybor Harbor, an upcoming mixed-use development.
Catch up quick: The Sun compete in the USL Super League, a Division I women’s league, and won the inaugural championship last weekend. The team played its first season at Blake High School’s riverfront stadium.
- The Sun spent millions to transform their temporary home, which included enhanced seating areas to raise capacity from 1,800 to more than 5,000, a new scoreboard and high-end, FIFA-approved turf.
Driving the news: Developer Darryl Shaw and the Sun said the stadium would be built within Ybor Harbor, part of his larger effort, along with Gasworx, to connect Ybor City to downtown Tampa.
- The stadium would seat 15,000 and include a boutique hotel. The surrounding mixed-use development will feature restaurants, hotels and office towers that will house the USL’s headquarters.
- It’s envisioned as a year-round venue for sports, concerts and festivals, as well as select U.S. National Team and international matches, according to a press release.
What they’re saying: “We believe in the power of sport to inspire, unite, and drive meaningful change,” Shaw said in a statement.
- “By anchoring this historic neighborhood with a vibrant home for women’s professional soccer, we’re investing in our city’s future and honoring the community that makes it thrive,” he added.
- “Tampa is a city of champions,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “Now we’re dreaming even bigger.”
The fine print: The stadium’s proposed construction timeline and cost have not yet been disclosed.
