Premier Sports kicks it up

LAKEWOOD RANCH —  Comfortable sitting on fold-up chairs and snuggled in their jackets, parents of children in the Lakewood Ranch Chargers Soccer Club watched the action from the sidelines at Premier Sports Campus.

They don’t mind the site doesn't have a concession stand or permanent bathrooms, but they wish it did. 

Their wish will soon come true.

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, owner of Premier, is building restrooms, concessions and other permanent facilities, including 3,000 seats worth of grandstands, on campus. 

“They’ve always promised them,” said April Thompson, as she watched her 9-year-old son, Jake, play. “They grounds are so awesome, it kind of overrides not having them. You know it’s a young facility. We knew it would be enhanced.

"But with any new project you have to wait.”

Field 6, which is viewable from Post Boulevard, is being transformed into a showcase field with a set of bleachers on each side to make it a focal point for significant matches. The restroom and concession facilities will be located nearby, around the edge of the field, as well. There also will be meeting space and an area for medical care.

“The success of some of the events we’ve hosted in the past and the continuity of those events coming back is one of the reasons we felt it was time to get something off the ground,” said Antonio Saviano, Premiere’s director of sports.

Saviano was talking about events like the Nike International Friendlies soccer tournament.

“It adds another step to the events we host and to the community,” he said.

Saviano described the improvements as “nothing elaborate” and said they should be complete by early May, weather permitting.

“It’s going to be a breath of fresh air to have permanent facilities,” said Becky Reynolds, mother of two children playing with the Lakewood Ranch Chargers Soccer Club. “It’s going to be nice.”

“It creates a more professional feel,” said Michelle Beorglegui, who was watching her 8-year-old son, Broden, play. “They’ll get to play next to the stadium where the Youth Nationals teams play. Premier draws so many tournaments. It’ll be nice to have permanent facilities. And the stadium, who knows what events it will draw? It’s neat for the kids.” 

Brendan Moran, technical director for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers, said the improvements will benefit their program, based out of Premier since mid-2011.

“To have bathroom facilities as well as concessions is really going to draw people who may have shied away before,” he said. “We’re definitely looking forward to it. The fields themselves are some of the nicest you are going to find in the country and that’s why they are able to host so many events. Now, to have that kind of focal point — a nice beautiful stadium with bathrooms — will add to it. People will want to bring their events there.”

Saviano said the concession building will have an area designated as a Lakewood Ranch information center because the facility sees so many out-of-area guests.

“It’s a big thing to showcase our community,” he said. “It will give people a chance to know Lakewood Ranch while they’re on site.”

He also noted that SMR this year cancelled its annual Winterfest concert series, typically held in February, because of the construction. However, other commitments, such as the USA Field Hockey President’s Day Showcase in February and other major events, will continue as planned.

“It’s going to be a little bit tight, but we should be able to manage,” Saviano said.