New concept input? SWFL - Multi-Sport, Wellness & Entertainment Complex

[Kristi Kandel]

Multi-Sport, Wellness & Entertainment Complex
Tagline: Active fun. Local flavor. Year-round community.

Vision

We are introducing a multi-sport, wellness, and entertainment complex designed to become a year-round hub for activity, connection, and community in Southwest Florida. Unlike typical 'eatertainment' venues or sports bars, this concept puts wellness, family, and active living at the center—complemented (not driven) by food, beverage, and social programming.

Core Features

Sports & Activity Zones

Indoor pickleball courts (climate controlled, 4–6 courts)

Indoor/outdoor beach volleyball courts (convertible for basketball/futsal)

Golf simulators & mini bowling lanes

Trampoline park + gymnastics/karate zone for kids/teens

Wellness & Recovery

Yoga, Pilates, meditation, & HIIT studios

Sauna, cold plunge, cryotherapy

Stretch Lab–style recovery center (guided stretching sessions, memberships, group classes)

Waterfall garden + relaxation space away from active sports areas

Family & Community

Dog park with outdoor games + beer garden/shaded seating

Running/walking trail with landscaped connections

On-site trolley to connect 10 acres of amenities

Signature lazy river wrapping the property

Entertainment

Live music stage (concerts, DJs, open mics, festivals)

Event lawn for community markets, tournaments, and seasonal activations

Food & Beverage

Food hall with rotating local chef pods (entrepreneurship focus)

Morning coffee, juice, and healthy breakfast service tied to wellness classes

Liquor license for controlled, property-wide sales (alcohol as complement, not driver)

Programming & Activation

A 7-day calendar ensures consistent traffic and appeal across demographics:

- Mornings: wellness classes + healthy breakfast service

- Afternoons: after-school clinics + corporate team sessions

- Evenings: leagues, trivia, karaoke, esports, family game nights, markets

- Late nights (weekends): concerts, DJ sets, festivals, after-hours crowd

Revenue Streams

Court & bay rentals

Memberships & leagues

Food & beverage sales (partnership rev share)

Wellness services (stretch lab sessions, day passes, memberships)

Events (concerts, markets, corporate rentals)

Sponsorships & naming rights

Trampoline/fitness zone admissions

Target Market

Primary: Adults 25–50 seeking active, social recreation with wellness focus

Secondary: Families, sports leagues, and corporate groups during daytime/weekends

Tertiary: Tourism and visitor spillover from SWFL’s growing destination market

Differentiators

Wellness + family integration (unique for this type of complex)

Signature lazy river as both a wellness and entertainment attraction

Local food entrepreneurship via rotating vendors

Year-round activation calendar to ensure constant use

Alcohol as complement—not driver—to active recreation

Climate-controlled indoor facilities for consistent play

Phasing the Build

Phase 1: Core sports courts, food hall, bar, family/kids activity zone, and event lawn

Phase 2: Wellness + recovery center, simulators, bowling, dog park/beer garden

Phase 3: Lazy river, trolley service, expanded outdoor landscape, and concerts

Potential Challenges to Solve Early

Zoning & Permitting: Mixed-use recreation, wellness, and entertainment will require layered approvals (PD recommended)Site Selection: Large footprint and 200–300 parking spaces required; access is critical

Capital Requirements: Likely $10M+ at full scale; partnerships or phased funding may be needed

Operations: Complex amenity mix requires strong GM and specialized team leads

Land Needs

Phase 1 – Core Sports & Food Hub:

- Indoor pickleball courts: 20,000–30,000 sq ft (~0.5–0.7 acres)

- Beach volleyball courts: 12,000–18,000 sq ft (~0.3–0.4 acres)

- Bar & rotating kitchen hall: 8,000–10,000 sq ft (~0.2 acres)

- Parking: 150–200 cars (~1.5–2 acres)Total: ~3–4 acres

Phase 2 – Entertainment & Wellness Expansion:

- Golf simulator lounge + mini bowling: 8,000–12,000 sq ft (~0.2 acres)

- Yoga/sauna/wellness center: 5,000–8,000 sq ft (~0.1–0.2 acres)

- Event lawn/live music: ~0.5 acres- 

Additional parking: 0.5–1 acre

Cumulative Total: ~4.5–6 acres

Phase 3 – Signature Lazy River & Enhancements:

- Lazy river: 20–30 ft width x 1,000–1,500 ft (~0.75–1 acre water + deck, ~1.5 acres total)

- Expanded courts/event space: ~0.5–1 acre

- Landscaped greenbelt areas: ~0.5 acres

Cumulative Total: ~7–8.5 acres minimum

Why target 10+ acres: Provides buffer zones, future growth space, and avoids maxing out footprint too early.

Zoning & Entitlement Path

This project spans several land use categories, so a Planned Development (PD/PUD) overlay is the cleanest path. It integrates recreation, wellness, food/beverage, and entertainment into a unified master plan.

Collier County:  

Commercial (C-4 / C-5 equivalent) or parcels with Commercial/Mixed Use in the FLUM are natural fits. A PUD overlay ensures all uses—wellness, food hall, entertainment, and family recreation—are approved together.

Lee County (per LDC guidance):

• Sports courts, golf simulators, mini bowling → Recreation Facilities Group IV (LDC 34-622)
• Yoga, wellness, recovery → Personal Services Group II (LDC 34-622)
• Live music & event lawn → Parks Group II (LDC 34-622)
• Food hall → Restaurant Group III (LDC 34-622)
• Lazy river & water features → Recreation Group III (LDC 34-622)
• Parking & circulation → LDC 34-2020
• Because these uses don’t align in one zoning district, a PD is the recommended entitlement vehicle.

In short: A PD/PUD overlay is the key to bringing this vision together. It provides design flexibility, sets clear conditions for wellness, recreation, and entertainment, and ensures county partnership in aligning with community goals.