An indoor sports complex with multiple ice rinks is a big step closer to reality in Lakewood Ranch, after Manatee County commissioners unanimously backed key business terms for the project at their June 16 regular meeting. The proposal, known by the developer as Project Grace, calls for multiple ice sheets, a 2,500-seat arena, and supporting retail and medical space on roughly 22 acres next to the Premier Sports Campus North. By approving business terms, commissioners cleared county staff to draft a long-term land-lease and operating agreement that will return to the board for a final vote.
What Commissioners Approved And Where It Would Go
According to the Bradenton Herald, the board authorized the county administrator to negotiate business terms with Wesley Chapel-based Icemann Development LLC and bring back a land lease and operating agreement for formal consideration. County presentations placed the project on about 22 county-owned acres adjacent to the Lakewood Ranch Library at the Premier Sports Campus North, with renderings showing the facility near the southwest corner of Uihlein Road and Rangeland Parkway. Commissioners pitched the move as a way to ramp up sports tourism and tournament business in the region.
Design, Amenities And Community Uses
As detailed by Business Observer, the complex is planned with four sheets of ice, including one rink with roughly 2,500 permanent seats. The design also calls for flexible flooring that can host basketball and other events, a pro shop, food and beverage areas, and orthopedic and athletic-training offices. The developer says portions of the venue could be covered and converted for non-ice events and that the building could serve as a county shelter during hurricanes if officials authorize that use. Renderings shown to commissioners varied in overall scale, with published figures ranging from about 190,000 to 250,000 square feet for the arena and parking combined.
How The Money Flows And What The County Puts In
Under the proposed business terms, Manatee County would keep ownership of the land while granting a 60-year ground lease with an option for a 30-year extension, according to the Bradenton Herald. The tenant would pay 1 dollar per year for the first three years, then 100,000 dollars in year four, with lease payments increasing by 2 percent annually after that. The county would also collect 20 percent of gross revenue from the parking garage starting in year two. County documents presented at the meeting note that the Tourist Development Council has recommended up to 5 million dollars in reimbursement from tourist-development funds for eligible horizontal infrastructure work.
Timeline, Approvals And What Comes Next
Business Observer reported a projected site-plan approval window of roughly October through December 2026, with a potential groundbreaking in January 2027 and completion by mid-2028 if financing and approvals stay on track. The county still has to vote on a formal land-lease and operating agreement at a future meeting. The developer told commissioners it has investors and a preapproval from a bank that is contingent on the county advancing the business terms. If the board signs a land lease later this year, project backers say the venue could start hosting tournaments and events aimed at bringing in year-round tourism dollars.
Public Concerns And Open Questions
Not everyone in the audience was thrilled with how the deal is taking shape. Observers with the League of Women Voters of Manatee County noted that the agenda item did not include attached presentation slides or detailed background materials, leaving the public without key documents for a major public-private partnership. Public commenters, including representatives from neighborhood associations, flagged worries about traffic, access, safety, and the pace of approvals, according to meeting notes. County leaders say more detailed plans and additional chances for public review will come as the land-lease and site plan work their way back to the board.
Manatee County posted a short video of the board discussion on July 20 on its Facebook page (Manatee County Government). Supporters focus on the project’s potential to boost sports tourism and add year-round events, while residents and government watchdogs say they want clearer public documentation before any final approvals. Officials say the formal lease and operating agreement are expected to return to the board in the coming months, with public hearings to follow as more detailed plans are filed.
