Ocean City Council takes another step forward in sports complex proposal

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Another step has been taken towards bringing a sports complex to Ocean City.

“I think that sports bring so many families, so many people, to our community. We’ve proven it with beach soccer and basketball, and volleyball, and all the other events. We’ve shown how popular they are,” said Mayor Rick Meehan.

Committee Created

Monday, Ocean City Council voted unanimously to form a blue ribbon committee of stakeholders. The committee will be tasked with answering the big questions left surrounding the project: Should more possible locations be considered? Will the complex put a focus on indoor or outdoor sports, or both? How is the project going to be paid for?

Back when the town was looking into expanding its convention center, a similar committee was formed. Mayor Meehan believes the sports complex committee will help achieve the same success.

“There were people that were in favor, there were people that were opposed. And, a lot of the opposition was just the unknown,” said Mayor Meehan. “When we got everybody in the same room, and we talked about it, we really vetted the pros and cons. And, we looked at the concept as a whole. We were able to come back with a recommendation to proceed and expand our convention center.”

Finding the Funding

The project could cost $153,525,000, and bring 1,000 new, full-time jobs to the area. The Maryland Stadium Authority has recommended an 80/20 cost share between the state and the town.

“We want to bring people here in the off-season,” said Ocean City Director of Business and Tourism, Tom Perlozzo. “A lot of those places that may close up will stay open. Our attraction might be to create some more full-time positions, be able to provide some economics in town, keep our tax rate down, try to generate some revenue.”

Perlozzo says if the state does end up providing 80% of the funding, it would significantly lower the cost the town was originally expecting. It’s a prospect that Mayor Meehan says he thinks everyone can get on board with.

“To be able to have a first class facility that can provide both indoor and outdoor courts on a year-round basis, I think, would be a tremendous boost to Ocean City,” said Mayor Meehan.

Looking Ahead

Despite the excitement around the project, Ocean City leaders are hoping to see more support from Worcester County Commissioners in the process.

“I think the sports complex has been on a bumpy road. It was a partnership with Worcester County originally, and I believe Worcester County now has indicated they don’t want to be in the sports business,” said Perlozzo. “We’re going to take a good, hard look at the sports tourism.”

“We’re hoping that maybe, as we move forward, and get some of the new information… we’ll gain more consensus, even from some of the other elected officials that currently do not support this concept,” added Mayor Meehan.