Four Ice Rinks Could Bring a New Era of Sports Tourism to Lakewood Ranch
A proposed $80 million indoor sports multiplex at Premier Sports Campus North would add ice hockey, figure skating, curling, volleyball, cheer, events, medical services and tournament-level seating to one of Manatee County’s fastest-growing sports destinations.
Lakewood Ranch could soon be adding something unexpected to Florida’s sports landscape: ice.
A proposed indoor sports multiplex at Premier Sports Campus North is moving forward after Manatee County commissioners voted June 16 to support the next phase of a public-private partnership with Wesley Chapel-based Icemann Development. The project is being planned for county-owned land near the Lakewood Ranch Library and would bring multiple sheets of ice, tournament infrastructure and year-round indoor event capacity to East Manatee County.
The project is currently estimated at roughly $75 million to $85 million, with early plans showing a facility of about 190,000 square feet. The concept includes four ice rinks, a 2,500-seat arena, food and beverage services, retail and pro shop space, sports medicine services, athletic training, free surface parking and an 800-space paid parking garage.
While ice hockey and figure skating would be the most obvious draws, the facility is being positioned as much more than an ice rink. At least one ice sheet could be covered to host non-ice events such as cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, dance competitions, consumer shows and community gatherings. County officials also said the building could potentially be used as an emergency shelter if authorized.
For Lakewood Ranch, the proposal fits into a larger pattern: the area continues to evolve from a residential growth story into a regional sports and entertainment hub. Premier Sports Campus already hosts major soccer, lacrosse and amateur sports events, with Manatee County listing the campus as having 23 FIFA regulation fields and a stadium with more than 3,000 seats.
The financial structure is also central to the story. Manatee County would lease approximately 22 acres at Premier Sports Campus North to Icemann Development, which would design, build, maintain and operate the venue. The Tourist Development Council previously recommended up to $5 million in Tourist Development Tax funds for horizontal infrastructure on a reimbursement basis.
County tourism officials are framing the multiplex as a major sports tourism investment. Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said sports tourism already plays a major role in Manatee County’s economy. According to figures presented to commissioners, leisure tourism generates about $1.95 billion annually, sports tourism about $400 million, and corporate tourism about $100 million. Premier Sports Campus alone was reported to have generated about $100 million in local economic activity in 2025.
If the timeline holds, county commissioners would review the land lease in late summer or early fall of 2026, site plan approval could follow between October and December, groundbreaking could begin in January 2027, and the multiplex could be completed between June and August 2028.
The proposal is not just about adding ice to a warm-weather market. It reflects a broader bet on Lakewood Ranch as a year-round destination for families, youth sports, tournaments, training, medical services and entertainment. For local athletes, it could mean less travel for hockey, figure skating and indoor competitions. For the region, it could mean more hotels filled, more restaurants visited and more reasons for families to spend weekends in East Manatee County.
In a community already known for rapid growth, master-planned neighborhoods and expanding recreation options, the arrival of a four-rink sports multiplex would mark another major step in Lakewood Ranch’s transformation into one of Florida’s most active sports corridors.
