Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton

When it comes to the expansion of his UMR Sports complex on Upper Manatee River Road, Ryan Moore has been excited. For a long, long time he has been excited.

Now, he said he is beyond the excited stage.

"It finally is becoming real," he said. "It's go time."

The complex opened in 2023 with four sand volleyball courts, six pickleball courts and an indoor batting cage facility with three "tunnels" for both baseball and softball.

While it was a nice introduction into the market, it wasn't what he had dreamed about when he told his father, Duane Moore, he was going to transform 52 acres of the former family dairy farm into a sports complex.

The major steps toward his dream are about to take place. 

Construction on the second phase of his complex begins in July or August when the UMR Sports' "multi-stay units" are built with a finish date of August or September 2027. Four buildings will host 232 units that will be occupied by those who will be participating in events at UMR Sports, or who will be staying even longer. That could include those who will be playing in the Professional Softball League that will be based out of UMR Sports, including the Florida Vibe team that Moore currently owns.

The Vibe currently plays its home games at State College of Florida in Bradenton, but will switch to UMR Sports campus when the stadium field is built. Those who want to check out a game can catch the Vibe on the streaming All Women's Sports Network (AWSN).

The stadium field, which will seat 2,000 and another 500 on an outfield berm, is part of Phase 3, which kicks off construction Oct. 1. That phase includes a five-plex that includes the stadium field and then four other softball/Under 12 baseball fields (210 feet down the lines and 220 feet to center), an adult soccer/lacrosse all-purpose field, and an adult baseball field. All the five-plex fields will have artificial turf.

Phase 3 is expected to be finished by next spring, with a Memorial Day weekend 2027 grand opening planned.

The fourth phase is expected to begin construction in late spring 2027 with a finish date approximately four months later. It will include a pickleball barn and an 18-hole miniature golf course.

Most of the expansion items were part of Moore's vision back in 2021 when he first announced the project. He said the permitting of the facility lengthened the process of getting everything built.

While Moore expects to host community leagues in the various sports, he said the demand for travel ball leagues is huge in the region so he expects his calendar to fill up fast when the fields are ready.

"This should be a tourism dream," he said of the facility. "I love Manatee County. It was where I was born and raised. I want to bring people here to our beautiful facility."

Elliott Falcione of Manatee County's Convention and Visitors Bureau agrees with Moore that it will be a destination.

"We love to see it," Falcione said of quality sports facilities that will attract visitors to the area. "Sports tourism creates $400 million of economic impact each year in Manatee County."

Falcione said UMR Sports is strategically located as well.

"We need to continue to build assets out east," he said, noting that the county tries to support private ventures such as UMR Sports.

Moore said his facility could host 50 teams in a weekend event once the five-plex is built. More amenities, such as the miniature golf course, are meant to provide entertainment for those between games.

His current staff is made up of his wife, Chandra Moore, who teaches pickleball; his son, Collin Moore, who handles baseball instruction, his daughter-in-law, Danielle Moore, who is the softball pitching instructor. He said he is about to hire a new employee who will handle social media duties.

Moore also noted that Manatee County is in the process of extending Port Harbour Parkway across Upper Manatee River Road and along the north side of the UMR Sports campus. Those visiting will be able to enter the facility either from entrances on Port Harbour Parkway or by Gates Creek Road, to avoid the traffic on Upper Manatee River Road.