TAMPA — When it comes to finding the ideal place to build a 175,000-square-foot indoor sports complex in Hillsborough County, county planners were tasked with delivering options.

One, in the West Shore area, was more like a half-court shot attempt.

A second option, near the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay, was more like a full-court shot.

But the Museum of Science and Industry site?

A slam dunk.

Hillsborough’s Board of County Commissioners agreed, voting unanimously to direct county staff to focus efforts on placing the indoor sports arena on the MOSI property on East Fowler Avenue.

Putting an indoor sports facility on the 74-acre MOSI site, where a firm has already been selected to develop a center for science, technology and innovation while bringing in multifamily housing, retail space and a hotel, would require incorporating the indoor sports complex into the site master plan.

Commissioner Ken Hagan called it a transformative opportunity.

“By building the indoor facility on the MOSI property … this will be the catalyst for the most transformative economic development project Hillsborough County has ever been associated with,” he said. “It’s estimated to be a $2 billion project. And additionally, I know staff believes an indoor facility will help to accelerate the development and make it even more attractive.”

Several factors made the MOSI site the clear choice, according to county staff.

First, the county already owns the land, cutting acquisition costs and legal hurdles.

Second, planners could repurpose some existing MOSI buildings on the campus’s west side, trimming costs and timelines.

Third, the site is centrally located, with easy access to major roads, including interstates 275 and 75 and public transit options.

While the county was looking for 15 acres to house the facility, by integrating it into the broader MOSI redevelopment, it could incorporate shared parking, meaning the county would only need 6 acres for the facility.

Plus, the added bonus of giving the revitalization of the Uptown corridor a boost is attractive.

MOSI, after languishing for years, recently opened the country’s second-largest planetarium and is viewed as an integral piece to growth in the Uptown district, which will soon include a new University of South Florida football stadium .

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“I think the word ‘catalyst’ has been used for the redevelopment of that acreage around there,” said Commissioner Chris Boles. “I think that this would continue to get that synergy to keep it going. I know that Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross is very interested in what happens right there, because it’s right across the (city) line. So is Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, so I think that we have a really unique opportunity here to breathe some life back to that facility.”

The county planners reviewed more than 18 potential sites before narrowing it down to a top three.

The West Shore area remains a possibility, but other than being brought forward by hoteliers in the area, there is no defined location or financial plan. It would also take the longest to develop. But if a plan comes together, county staff could still bring it forward.

The Tournament Sportsplex location — a 15-field complex for soccer and other sports that opened in 2018 — was eliminated because, despite its great success, it may not be able to support another facility due to parking and traffic concerns.

Commissioners were presented with options for indoor and outdoor facilities but agreed to focus on the indoor facility for now.

According to a study by Crosswoods Consulting, a 174,000-square-foot indoor facility with 12 basketball/24 volleyball courts would have a major economic impact.

Greg Horwedel, deputy county administrator, said the development of the MOSI property would generate ad valorem, sales tax and tourism revenue, a portion of which could help support its annual operating costs.

Plus, Hagan added, the benefit to area parents whose kids play youth sports will be significant.

“I can tell you, after nine years of my daughter playing travel softball, I felt it in the pocketbook,” he said. “These complexes are big business.”

A longtime proponent of county sports facilities, Hagan included using $2 million in BP oil spill proceeds for use in initial design work in his motion. In 2019, he said the county specifically identified the $2 million to be used for an indoor athletic facility.

Other potential funding sources include Community Investment Tax and Tourist Development Tax reserves.