Seminole County Comptroller Flags $211 Million Gap in Proposed $175 Million Indoor Sports Complex, Urges Pause

Seminole County's proposed indoor sports complex near Orlando Sanford International Airport could leave taxpayers covering a $211 million gap over 30 years, according to a white paper released this week by the county's Clerk of Court and Comptroller. Clerk and Comptroller Grant Maloy is now urging county commissioners to pause the project, whose estimated cost has climbed from about $61 million in 2023 to about $175 million.

The 16-page report was prepared by the Seminole County Division of Inspector General, which works under the clerk's office. It concludes that the facility is not expected to pay for itself and that covering its debt could force the county to shift money away from other priorities in future years. County officials say they remain committed to a careful approach and expect to give commissioners an update in January.

What the white paper found

The analysis compares what the county would owe on borrowed money with what the complex and its dedicated tourism revenues are expected to bring in, WKMG News 6 reported. If the full project is financed, debt service over 30 years is projected at $332 million, while direct revenue from operations and tourism taxes is projected at $121 million. That leaves a shortfall of $211 million. FOX 35 reported that the projection assumes a 4.75% interest rate.

The report also looked at a smaller borrowing scenario. If the county finances only its share of the project, about $110 million, the projected gap drops to $88 million.

The key figures in the report and in county planning documents include:

• Current estimated cost: $160 million to $175 million.
• Current proposed size: 161,000 to 178,500 square feet.
• Original 2023 concept: 139,000 square feet at $61.1 million.
• Projected 30-year debt service with full financing: $332 million.
• Projected 30-year direct revenue: $121 million.
• Consultants' estimate of local economic impact over 30 years: $2.4 billion.

"The proposed costs have grown substantially, from $61 million in 2023 to the current projected cost of $175 million today," Maloy said, according to WKMG. "It is important for the County Commission to carefully consider all of the potential risks."

Comptroller calls for a pause

Maloy went further in an interview with WESH 2, recommending that commissioners stop and rethink the plan. "I think we ought to put it on pause, see if it should go back to its original design," he told the station.

He also questioned whether a sports venue belongs on the county's list of responsibilities. "The primary goals of county government are things like public safety, law enforcement, judicial systems, roads," Maloy said. "Indoor sports stadiums is not a function of county government."

The inspector general recommended exploring a public-private partnership, and Maloy suggested commissioners consider one. "The good thing about that is it spreads the risk out. Right now, the taxpayers are 100% on the risk for this," he told WESH.

Where the money would come from

The county's plan relies on three revenue sources: the Tourism Improvement District, a self-imposed assessment paid by the hotel industry; the Tourist Development Tax charged on hotel stays; and the county's penny sales tax. The county says no property tax money is planned for the project. WKMG reported that the Tourism Improvement District has raised nearly $4.8 million since collections began in April 2025.

The white paper's concern is that those sources would not be enough to cover the debt. FOX 35 reported that the comptroller's office warned that using penny sales tax money could take funding away from other county services and community projects, especially if the county faces budget pressure.

The Amendment 3 factor

Maloy also pointed to the recent passage of Amendment 3, which WESH described as a measure that enlarges the homestead property tax exemption. Voters approved it statewide with 62% support in the Nov. 3 election, while only 46% of Seminole County voters backed it. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to call a special session before he leaves office to set up the legal framework for the amendment.

A larger homestead exemption would reduce the property tax revenue that counties collect. Even though the sports complex is not supposed to rely on property taxes, Maloy argued that the tighter budget picture makes the project riskier. "I don't see the risk outweighing the benefits, especially in this climate," he told WESH.

What the county wants to build

The complex would sit near the Boombah Sports Complex and the Sanford airport. WKMG reported that the site is next to a masonry and concrete operation. When commissioners advanced the project in May, the county described a facility with up to 12 basketball courts, 22 volleyball courts, championship seating, flexible event space and a 25-court beach volleyball complex, WFTV reported at the time.

The venue is designed to host regional tournaments in basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer and dance, along with graduations, banquets and other large events. Officials have also said it could serve as an emergency shelter after hurricanes.

Supporters see it as a way to bring more overnight visitors to Seminole County. The county's consultant projections, cited in May, called for more than 322,000 indoor event attendees a year, about 42,000 hotel room nights a year and 562 new jobs, along with the $2.4 billion in total economic benefit. "This project represents a significant opportunity for Seminole County," Commission Chairman Andria Herr said at the time.

How the project got here

The county first floated a 139,000-square-foot concept in 2023 with a $61.1 million price tag. The county says that figure was a preliminary conceptual estimate, not a budget. On May 12, commissioners voted unanimously to let staff seek architectural, engineering and construction management services and to keep talking about possible land purchases near the site. In August, the board approved design and construction management agreements, which officials said would help refine the project's scope and cost.

In a statement, the county said it "remains committed to a thoughtful, measured approach to the development of the Indoor Sports Complex." FOX 35 reported that the county said this approach includes reviewing financial considerations, the economic and community benefits, and how the project fits with county priorities.

What's next

Commissioners are scheduled to receive an update in January with more detail on projected costs and next steps. No final construction approval has been given, and more design work and board votes are still required. That January meeting will be the first chance for commissioners to respond publicly to the white paper and to decide whether to keep the project on its current path, scale it back, pursue a private partner, or pause it as Maloy recommends.