Hillsborough County Explores Ice Rink and Sports Complex at MOSI Property

Proposal for Ice Rink and Sports Complex

• 🎯 Hillsborough County Commissioners are exploring the feasibility of building an ice rink and hockey complex on the property of Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).
• 💡 This initiative is part of a larger vision to redevelop the underutilized 74-acre MOSI site, which currently uses only 7 acres.
• ✅ The MOSI CEO, John Graden Smith, is supportive of the plan, seeing it as an opportunity to enhance the area with more amenities.

Synergy with Existing Development Plans

• 🚀 Commissioners voted to evaluate the privately funded ice facility, aiming to leverage existing synergy in the area.
• 🏗️ This potential ice rink could complement a previously approved 174,000 square foot indoor sports complex, which will feature 12 basketball and 24 volleyball courts.
• 🏢 The redevelopment plan includes repurposing the museum's old, unused buildings.

Transforming the MOSI Area

• 🗺️ The vision is to transform the MOSI area into a hub similar to 'Midtown,' integrating with developments at USF and a nearby golf course.
• 🌟 MOSI has already seen a significant attendance increase of 30-50% this year, partly due to the opening of its new planetarium.
• 📈 With proposed additions like the sports complex and potentially an ice rink, MOSI anticipates attracting several hundred thousand visitors annually.

Future Outlook and Timeline

• 🏨 The plan also includes building at least two hotels to accommodate the anticipated increase in visitors.
• 🗓️ The indoor sports complex is tentatively scheduled to open in 2028.
• ❓ It remains unclear whether the ice rink and hockey complex will be included in this initial timeline, as its development is still under consideration.