Ford Vehicle

MONTGOMERY - State Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden envisions a mega-sports complex in Gadsden that would draw youth and adult sporting events like softball tournaments that produce tourism bucks in addition to home runs. The idea has the ear of fellow legislators and other officials who say the concept could boost Etowah County’s economy and spawn the growth of businesses to handle thousands of families attending sporting events.

Although the idea of a sports complex is not cast in stone, Etowah County legislators are willing to consider local legislation that would reconstitute the civic center authority as a legal vehicle to develop a sports complex or to create a new authority. “What we’re hoping to do is create a new authority which will consolidate tourism in Etowah County and put all funding in the authority and let it research to buy land and build a mega-sports complex,” Ford said.

“This could involve possibly indoor basketball, a skateboard park, girls softball, baseball, clay tennis courts, a walking trail, numerous soccer fields that could double as football.” Ford, D-Gadsden, said a new tourism board could have 11 or so members appointed by the tourism community, local elected officials and the legislative delegation, then hire a director who would hire employees.

The countywide lodging tax of $1.50 approved for a convention center now could be used to fund the sports complex, he added. The tax produces about $375,000 a year. State Sen. Larry Means, D-Attalla, has asked the Legislative Reference Service that drafts bills whether it would be better to form a new authority or just change the existing authority to accommodate new plans.