BERLIN – A sports complex that features indoor and outdoor facilities on Route 50 in Berlin is estimated to cost at least $153 million in today’s marketplace, according to a report released this week.
The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) on Monday released the much-anticipated study update commissioned by the Town of Ocean City for $49,400 regarding a proposed indoor fieldhouse and outdoor field complex at the Berlin site being considered by Worcester County for a sports complex. The study looks at the costs and impacts of a sports complex consisting of eight to 10 tournament quality fields and a 125,000 square foot indoor facility.
“MSA’s role in managing studies is to provide unbiased and objective analysis which provides information to local officials to assist in the decision-making process about investment and benefits for their communities and constituents,” a synopsis of the study reads.
While a sports complex has been a topic of discussion among local officials since at least 2017, the process took a big step forward this spring when the Worcester County Commissioners voted 4-3 to pursue the purchase of 95 acres adjacent to Stephen Decatur High School for $7.1 million. At that point, the Town of Ocean City approached the MSA to seek an update to a 2020 Crossroads Consulting market and economic analysis related to a sports complex. MSA released the updated study, which looks at the Route 50 site specifically, this week. The new document includes updated market research, existing sports facilities in the region, a conceptual site plan and an estimate of related revenues. The MSA lists as key findings:
— Demand exists for both the indoor and outdoor components of the sports complex
Please just stop Worcester County. What are you trying to prove? Stupidity never ends in that county.
Would be interesting to know how much of a payoff the commissioners who voted in favor of this received. This should’ve gone to a referendum and let the taxpayers decide if this much money should have been spent on this deal. Something doesn’t seem quite right about the way this was done
Build it and people will come. The people come and the businesses will come. There will be a hotel or should I say multiple hotels across the street on the Croppers land. There will be a Wawa, more fast food, and the the traffic will be backed up all over.
That said, I’m not against this. What needs to be understood though is that this place will lose money each and every year. What it will provide is a draw for people to come here. If your kid plays travel ball would you rather spend your weekend in the middle of PA or at the beach in MD?
If it were me I would look to add more convertible fields so that baseball/softball could be played there, maybe on a turf field.
Just my two cents.
Can they relocate Snow Hill’s unseaworthy paddleboat to the sports field facility to serve as a static, nautical themed restaurant or admin location? Just tow it by water to W Ocean City harbor and then to its destination, or by land up 113 to its spot. That will get it off Snow Hill’s waterfront and budget. The amount it will cost can be rolled into the cost of the fields.
Or it can just rust and rot moored in the Pocomoke.
Asking for a friend…
The Sports at the Beach complex in Sussex County does exactly what you described. Everyday during the summer months and nearly every weekend in the shoulder season, Sports at the Beach is packed with kids sporting events and teams.