Premier expands offerings

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Antonio Saviano, the new director of sports at Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, is a soccer guy.

But since he began work at Premier a year ago, Saviano, charged with attracting events to the facility and its 22 soccer fields, has spent weekends helping to remove the soccer goals to make way for non-traditional events.

In a theme magnified since he became director of sports after Tim Mulqueen resigned, Saviano has been the ringleader of a non-traditional business strategy at Premier.

That is, Premier Sports Campus — recent host of Lakewood Ranch’s first rock concert, Winterfest, and future host of Derby Day at the Ranch, a day to watch horse racing on a giant television — is making its 140 acres of grass fields open to everybody and everything.

“We want Premier to have availability for any type of event that wants to come here,” Saviano said. “We want events that are going to come into the community and do good for the community. Even if that is not soccer, we won’t turn it down. We have this great facility. Let’s use it.”

Lisa Barnott, director of marketing and communication for Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, said SMR always has envisioned Premier would be a multiuse facility, hosting everything from festivals to competitions to sports clinics. The concept feeds into the community’s “live, work and play” philosophy.

“The successes of Lakewood Ranch fuel each other,” she said. “More amenities equals more visitors equals more residents.”

And, successes at creating events at Premier could result in bigger plans for entertainment in Lakewood Ranch.

“That’s the way it has been on the Ranch since day one, and there’s no reason to think that would change now,” she said.

Barnott said she expects Premier will become even busier for sporting events, or entertainment, in time.

Premier already has Nike International Friendlies tournament — the U.S. Soccer Federation’s biggest youth event — for the last three years. And, Nike just signed on to hold its event at Premier for another three years after 2014.

Athletes from sports as varied as lacrosse, Irish hurling, ultimate Frisbee and rugby also play on Premier’s fields. It also hosts practices and games for youth soccer, football and lacrosse leagues.

But after attracting major events in those sports, Premier also has developed a reputation as a place that can deliver marquee entertainment.

“The facility can accommodate almost anything,” Saviano said. “Eight out of 10 times, we will make it work.”

Premier’s grounds are so vast that sometimes little is required to accomodate new events.

For example, the main stage used by performers at Winterfest stood on a patch of field that would otherwise be unused.

“There was nothing in that space before,” Saviano said. “There were no goals that had to be moved or anything. It was literally the performers and their staff who controlled most of the setup.”

In the future, Premier, owned by SMR, plans to expand its facilities to include bathrooms and locker rooms, staff offices and concession stands.

“My goal is to keep the facility occupied and have events that put Lakewood Ranch on the map and also provide long-term benefit to the community,” Saviano said.

Upcoming Premier Sports Campus events
• The Color Vibe 5K — 8 a.m. Saturday, April 19
• Derby Day at the Ranch – noon Saturday, May 3

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].