85-acre sports complex opens in Hillsborough
By Henry Queen
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 25, 2023

A youth sportsplex has passed the finish line in suburban Hillsborough County.

The SouthShore Sportsplex in Apollo Beach opened on Sept. 9. It features four synthetic-turf athletic fields, making it one of the largest contiguous synthetic turf fields in the nation. The fields will host soccer, football, lacrosse, kickball, cricket and more. There are enough parking spots for 500 vehicles and space for meetings.

Unlike other facilities operating under the county's parks and recreation department, the county is aiming to keep some SouthShore's fields open for public use while also maintaining access for organized sports leagues. It will cost $275 per day to rent out an entire field.

The county paid $11 million for the first phase of the project. The second phase — which has yet to be completed — will include four baseball fields.