WEC’s massive sports complex hurtles toward finish line

Tim Gant, left, and Jerome Feaster, right, both of Save Our Rural Areas (SORA) talk to each other during the Planning and Zoning Commission and DRC Waiver Requests Public Hearing about the proposed World Equestrian Center Sports Facilities at the Marion County Commission auditorium in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, July 21, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.

After more than four hours of discussion before an audience of over 200 people, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners on July 21 unanimously approved a controversial and expansive sports complex that World Equestrian Center owners plan to build on land previously designated for low-density housing and “equestrian estates.”

The vote during the board’s Planning & Zoning meeting sends the plan to state agencies for review. The board anticipates getting the review back later this year, at which point a zoning change and potential planning restrictions will be negotiated and voted on. That will be the third and final hearing on the project applications. Sports at WEC hopes to have Phase 1 in operation in spring 2026.

Golden Ocala Equestrian Land LLC, the entity for the WEC organization, requested a Comprehensive Plan Large Scale Text Amendment to allow for part of the sports complex on the agricultural land, a comp plan map amendment to allow for sports facilities in the Urban Area within the current Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) fronting State Road 40 and an additional 300-room hotel on the parcel.

“The allowance for Sport Facilities aligns with the WEC’s existing recreational and hospitality functions,’’ according to a county staff report. “However, by requiring explicit FLUE (Future Land Use Element) Policy approval, the County retains control over these uses, ensuring they are compatible with the rural character. Moreover, the amendment retains the restriction that commercial uses in the Urban Area must be equestrian-related, which is critical to preventing urban sprawl and maintaining rural integrity.”

Sports at WEC plans to host a variety of activities

Eric Sullivan, representing Sports Facilities Companies, based in Clearwater, which will develop the complex, presented plans for the various indoor and outdoor sports facilities.

There is a need for this complex in north central Florida, Sullivan said, citing a previous study the county received from Hunden Strategic Advisors. Sullivan showed examples of the company’s previous work in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Texas and said weekend and weeklong sports events would benefit tourism and local sports teams that need places to play and practice.

Commissioner Craig Curry asked Sullivan how local children would benefit from the project if the facilities would be available for public use such as after-school programs and local leagues. Sullivan said they would be available and would not interfere with other scheduled sporting events.

Wyatt Stephens, director of sports at WEC, spoke to the need for quality facilities for local athletes. “High-level athletes” in Marion County, he said, are underserved and have to travel to Tampa, Orlando or father to access events. Sports at WEC, he said, would allow for the growth of local athletes and give them opportunities they don’t currently have.

WEC, he said, currently hosts a variety of nonequine events in its expo halls, including summer soccer camps, graduation ceremonies, dog shows, expo/vendor sales events and “open field play” for adults on select evenings.

General layout of complex

The parcel is divided by Northwest 92^nd Avenue Road. On the southeast side of the parcel, a mix of synthetic and natural turf soccer/lacrosse fields are planned. Additionally, the project includes eight full-size synthetic turf multipurpose soccer, lacrosse and football fields; three natural turf soccer/lacrosse fields; and a championship soccer field with covered seating. This section also includes an “elevated covered parking” structure.

To the north, an indoor facility will allow for two full-sized ice sheets, eight full-sized basketball courts with the ability to function as 16 volleyball courts, and a full-sized synthetic turf soccer pitch. Plans for that building also allow for graduation ceremonies, concerts and food services with retail operations. A “sports entertainment” venue on the northwest corner could host miniature golf and pickleball events and includes a restaurant and retail section.

On the west and southwest side, six baseball/softball fields are slated. The complex also would house two restaurants and multiple fan-support buildings containing concessions, restrooms and field maintenance needs, according to the documents. Sports at WEC envisions outdoor field sports events, concerts and a hotel along with two restaurants and a site for food trucks.

Speakers pro and con

Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano addressed the board first during the public comment period and spoke in favor of the project. He cited the positive effects that playing sports have on children and how sports helps them learn teamwork. Sports participation, he said, offers positive self-esteem and good adult role models.

More than two hours of public comment followed, with about two-thirds of the nearly three dozen speakers opposing the project.

Several former and current athletes spoke in favor of the complex, citing the logistical challenges and expense of traveling for weekend competitions. Some also mentioned the lack of high-level opportunities to reach college or professional echelons. Scouts don’t attend individual school games anymore, one speaker pointed out. They go to regional tournaments instead to find youth talent.

William Kerns also spoke in favor, saying the Roberts family, owners of WEC, have created a “sustainable equine community” already and that the sports complex would allow kids “who may have never seen a horse” to see equestrian competitions alongside their own sports.

Matt Brockway, attorney for Horse Farms Forever, along with attorneys representing Charlotte Weber, owner of Live Oak Stud and Bernie Little, owner of Misty Lane, LLC and president of Horse Farms Forever, opposed the changes.

Brockway said a “high-intensity sports tourism development with unlimited concerts” was at odds with the surrounding area and previous legal agreements made. The lawyers presented a 2016 settlement agreement made between Weber, Rebecca Lord and Michelle Sivilich with the GoldenOcala/WEC team that designated “one home per three acres” was a future restriction on development of that section of the parcel.

The change, one attorney said, “dismantles the settlement agreement previously done.” The board was also reminded that a 2020 amendment to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) also specified low-residential usage in that section to act as a buffer between WEC and the horse farms and rural land to the west. The presentation cited multiple examples of FLUE policy and subsections that specifically listed “low residential” and “equestrian estates” as the intended and approved uses for that section of the parcel.

Additionally, Brockway pointed out, the required traffic impact analysis was not completed and included, which makes the application incomplete and therefore not ready for state review.

County staff reported on the various amendments for the entire WEC operation, beginning with the initial application and approval in 2016 and showing various PUD rezoning and special use permits granted over the years.

Tim Gant, president of Save Our Rural Area, said the project was “a breach of public trust” and reminded commissioners that the change in 2017 was to allow for equestrian estates not a “Disney-fied” complex larger than the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex currently in operation near Orlando.

Ira Stern brought a water spigot as a prop and asked commissioners about the water usage for the multiple turf fields, the new hotel and various retail venues proposed. He cited that WEC already uses 2.4 million gallons of water a day and questioned the sustainability of additional new uses.

Marion County School Board member Nancy Thrower urged the board to “stay vigilant against zoning creep,” and another speaker quoted Commissioner Carl Zalak’s own words during the 2017 initial hearing for the original WEC complex. People “expect rural peace and quiet,” not concerts and non-horse sports, Zalak said at the time. “This feels like a swindle,” the speaker said.

Other speakers spoke about the special soil in the northwest part of the county and how its unique limestone base helps horses grow. It also, however, can prompt sinkholes. Additionally, the area is a watershed for Rainbow Springs and speakers pointed out the potential environmental dangers from the fertilizers and nitrogen commonly used to maintain sports fields.

Some speakers were enthused about the overall concept but felt the location near the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) made it an incompatible use.

After nearly two hours of public comment, the commissioners questioned attorney Jimmy Gooding and engineer David Tillman, who represented the WEC team. About the 2016 agreement with the Webers, Gooding said there were no restrictions on making future changes.

“You can change the rules,” he stated. He also reminded the board that the entire parcel was not in the FPA but was, in fact, in the UGB.

Zalak spoke at length about the generosity of the Roberts family and how they’ve helped Marion County. He was confident, he said, that the Roberts would do a world-class operation in sync with the other WEC endeavors.

Commissioner Matt McClain also spoke positively about the importance of the FPA and acknowledged the impact that horses have on the county.

“There’s room for both,” he said.

Commission Chair Kathy Bryant also chimed in about the challenges of traveling for youth sports and said she felt that “children should be involved in youth sports.” Learning to be a team player is crucial to development, she said.

WEC Proposed Sports Facilities – Planning & Zoning Commission

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