CLEARWATER, Fla. — The city of Clearwater has applied for $10 million in bed tax money from the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council’s capital funding projects program to renovate the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Clearwater has applied for $10 million in bed tax from the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council 

  • City officials say the money would be used to renovate the Eddie C. Moore Complex 

  • The complex wants to add a new two-story building along with softball field amenities

  • Pinellas County commissioners will vote on the request in October

“This property is almost 40 years old at this point,” said Carla Scrivener, Clearwater's parks and recreation senior division manager. "It really needs a little bit more upgrading done to it to be competitive in the environment that we’re in.”

City officials say the renovations would take place on fields 1 through 4. The plan calls for expanding the bleachers to seat up to four times more spectators, upgrading the softball field lighting to LED, renovating the dugout to a concrete building and improving the view for spectators.

“Take the fencing down and put up netting,” said Scrivener. “That would be more conducive for filming through.”

Scrivener said the city also wants to replace the existing concession stand with a two-story building that will have a press box on top.

“The first floor being storage and expanded restroom facilities for the spectators,” she said. “The bigger component of it would be the second floor, which would have a large open space with four dedicated broadcast spaces.”

The complex attracts up to 35 tournaments every year, with some games being broadcast nationally on ESPN and the MLB Network. The new building will have plug-and-play technology, which will allow scouts and coaches to easily stream video.

The city must prove a return on investment in order to qualify for the tourist development tax money. Last year, the complex generated $39.7 million in direct spending by non-local attendees, with a total economic impact of $61.6 million in Pinellas County.

“I think that the renovations will continue to grow the economic impact that we already currently bring into the community,” said Scrivener. “We have the opportunity to do a few more higher-level events.”

At the July 17 meeting, TDC board member Phil Henderson expressed support for the project.

“I know the Eddie C. Moore Complex will probably attract more tournaments and so forth, if it’s more up to date and modernized,” he said. “So, that can be an increase over what would have been.”

The TDC has seven other capital funding project requests and is expected to make a recommendation in September to county commissioners — who will then vote in October.

Scrivener said softball has a long history in Clearwater, going back to the Bombers in the 1940s — the complex is named after one of those players. Scrivener said the proposed renovations will ensure softball thrives well into the future.

“What we’re hoping to be able to continue to do to grow the sport of softball, continue to promote women’s athletics and continue to make Clearwater a spotlight community,” she said. “Not just here in Florida but across the country.”

If the bed tax money is approved, the city would close a section of the Eddie C. Moore complex in 2026 for construction.