'Sports Complex of the Americas'
proposed in south Mobile County
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
Proponents of an ambitious 1,000-acre, potentially $500 million development, anchored by a "Sports Complex of the Americas," on school board land in south Mobile County will soon disclose the plans publicly, according to participants and elected officials in recent meetings to inform them of the project.
The C.P. Newdome Foundation intends to advance the proposal with the assistance of the Mobile County Commission and the Mobile County Public School System. The plan calls for the creation of a special "tax incentive district" within the development to pay off bonds issued for construction of the project.
According to a report on the undertaking distributed recently to various officials, the foundation will ask the school board to "move forward with the following:"
- Make available to the foundation for $1 per year Section 12 land at McDonald Road and I-10;
- The site will include a $20 million vocational high school to be maintained by MCPSS;
- MCPSS would receive up to $1 million per year in property tax revenue, "understanding that this will be a progressive amount based on land usage in an ongoing basis."
- MCPSS would get 25 percent, or one cent per dollar, of the special four percent, or four cents per dollar, tax levied on sales within the development. Present tax revenues generated for the school system would remain unchanged.
- Arrangements to permit use of the facilities by MCPSS students would "be worked out in good faith."
CPNF representatives had hoped to submit the request to the school board at its Jan. 27 meeting, but delays have probably slowed their schedule until Feb. 17, according to a CPNF spokesperson.
The Mobile County Commission would be asked to approve the dedicated extra four-cent sales tax and generally provide the project with its legal blessing.
The SCA backers envision within 400 acres of the 1,000-acre site the following facilities:
- 500,000 square foot, multi-purpose field house for various indoor sports, exhibitions and other events;
- Multi-purpose stadium seating about 50,000 for football, soccer, rugby, field sports and an Olympic track;
- 12 Pro-Turf year-round sports fields for soccer, football and rugby;
- 12 softball and youth baseball fields;
- An indoor aquatic center with stadium seating and diving platforms;
- A Skate Park (skate board, roller blade, ramps and BMX bike);
- Cross Country facility and running trails;
- Health and wellness center;
- Recreational vehicle and camping areas;
- Restaurant and associated dining facilities;
- Retail concessions and facilities;
- An administrative office building.
Anticipated private development would feature:
- Five to six hotels with 600-800 rooms total;
- About 1 million square feet of retail space;
- Two "Branson (MO)" style musical venues;
- About 100,000 square feet of office space;
- A 65-acre indoor/outdoor waterpark resort.
Steve Hanley was listed as development committee chairman for the C.P. Newdome Foundation.
Because sensitive negotiations were ongoing, Hanley said he was "hesitant to say anything about this at this very minute. A week or two from now, I'll chat my heart out."
Hanley said he was one of 15 directors on the CPNF board. The board has been assembling the project for the past five years, he said. The foundation was named for Newdome, a legendary figure in youth athletics and recreation here for more than 40 years.
"C.P. was responsible for a lot of programs throughout Mobile County for kids black and white," Hanley said and naming the foundation after him was a tribute to him and his substantial contributions to the community.
"In the last three or four months, the process has accelerated greatly," Hanley said. "We have some very strong partners in his group. I'll be more than willing to elaborate on this in another week or two. Let me quote one of my board members though that this is 'the right people, at the right place, at the right time.' When you see all the players that are involved in this particular venture it is very impressive."
County Commissioner Steve Nodine allowed that he was skeptical about aspects of the enterprise, but declined further comment because the CPNF representatives had requested confidentiality until they release details of the project publicly.
CPNF's "mantra" is "Keep Kids in Sports, and Out of Courts," according to its report.
The report says a letter of intent has been signed by CPNF Chairman Slade Watson and Bishop State Community College President Dr. James Lowe and awaits the signature of MCPSS Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols.
Ultimately, CPNF hopes to "pursue other agreements with private and public schools in Mobile, Baldwin, Washington and Escambia counties in Alabama and Jackson County of Mississippi."
