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US$36m multi-sport complex set for IMG Academy in Florida, US
IMG Academy, a division of IMG Worldwide, has broken ground on a new multi-sport complex and stadium at its facility in Bradenton, Florida, US.
The 100-acre expansion will include a Bermuda grass surface football / soccer / lacrosse field; an eight-lane, 400m training track; video board; and a new baseball field.
IMG's US$36m (€28m, £23.6m) expansion includes US$14m (€10.8m, £9m) for sports facilities, US$15m (€11.5m, £9.8m) for a new residence hall designed to increase the student count to 1,300 from 818 - and US$7m (€5.4m, £4.6m) to buy land for expansion.
The new stadium will have a 10,000-seat capacity, the first 5,000 of which will be open in August. It will also feature TV-ready lights and a broadcast-style press box designed to draw major sports networks to IMG to broadcast events.
The second phase will open in December featuring a 40,000sq ft (3,716sq m) field house with locker rooms, meeting spaces and offices.
In 2014, the third phase will launch and include an expanded research and development lab for sport performance companies such as Gatorade, Under Armor, Airweave, Prince tennis and motion-capture software company Motus Global.
A preliminary report commissioned by IMG shows the academy exerted a US$517m (€398m, £339m) economic impact in the region last year. The final economic impact report prepared by Florida economist Hank Fishkind is expected to be completed and released in coming months.
IMG chief financial officer Chip McCarthy said: "The multiplier effect for IMG Academy is significant. The events they host bring in visitors from all over the world.
"They come here and see what we have to offer, they go out to eat, they buy houses, some of them even bring their businesses here."
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