FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The Florence Soccer Complex is officially open to the public.
The $7 million soccer complex is located at the intersection of I-95 and West Palmetto Street and will be open for games starting Feb. 26.
Florence City Mayor Stephen Wukela said the facility will have 14 regulation-sized soccer fields for youth soccer.
“It’s just over ninety acres, and it’s a fantastic new facility,” Wukela said.
The Mayor said the land for the complex was donated by the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation. The Foundation also gave the city $6 million to build the facility.
“It’s two-and-a-half or three million dollar’s worth of property alone,” he said. “They [Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation] gifted us $6.5 million for the construction of the facility itself.”
He said the City of Florence spent about half a million dollars on utilities like water and sewage.
“The county invested a million dollars for the relocation of the road, Twin Church Road, which now runs directly into the facility,” he said.
The Mayor said there is also a plan for a separate facility near the complex that would house both public restrooms and a concessions stand.
“It’ll be several months before design will be complete, and I would estimate probably eight to ten months of construction at least,” he said about the field house.
Wukela said the complex will help the city grow.
“Because of the generosity of the foundation, we’re able to build these facilities that rival any facility in the state or region,” the Mayor said. “It’s much bigger than probably most communities our size are able to construct.”
He said the soccer complex will benefit both the city and the community.
“The city’s going to operate that facility, obviously the operation is very expensive, but because of the revenues that will come into the city from hospitality taxes as we’re able to host tournaments, and bring people in from outside the community,” he continued. “That revenue will not only be beneficial to the restaurants and hotels, and store owners in our community, it will also generate those hospitality dollars that will allow us to operate the facility.”
The Mayor said the soccer complex is open to everyone, and will help the city become a destination for sports activities.
“Sports recreation and tourism is very, very strong, and brings a lot of revenue into the communities, but in addition to that, it’s the quality of life for our community,” he said.
Wukela said there is a possibility of a baseball stadium in the future.
“There is some money to purchase additional property around the current tennis center,” he said. “We had a gift of about 40 acres next to the tennis center. We’re going to be buying some additional property around there, and that’s an area that could serve as a baseball facility, but those plans aren’t formalized yet.”
Opening day at the soccer complex is Sat. Feb. 17, and soccer tournaments held at the facility will start on Sat. Feb. 24.
