Daily Digs: Tampa Bay Sun Plan 15K-Seat Stadium, County Plans Regional Sports Complex, and More!

Tampa Bay Sun Plan Women's Soccer Stadium 

The USL Women’s Super League champion Tampa Bay Sun announced an ambitious plan for their own 15,000-seat stadium, joining a growing trend of facilities being built specifically for women’s sports.

The project announced Tuesday would be the first stadium for a team in the Women’s Super League, which sits on the top tier of women’s soccer in the United States alongside the National Women’s Soccer League.

The expected cost and timeline for the project, which includes the new headquarters for the USL, have not been disclosed.

The stadium would be part of a 33-acre project in Tampa’s historic Ybor City district by developer David Shaw, who is also Tampa Bay’s majority owner. The area was once considered for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

“We believe in the power of sport to inspire, unite, and drive meaningful change,” Shaw said in a statement. “By anchoring this historic neighborhood with a vibrant home for women’s professional soccer, we’re investing in our city’s future and honoring the community that makes it thrive.”

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Barren County, Ky., Lays Groundwork for New Sports Complex 

Barren County is laying the groundwork for a new sports complex that could significantly boost both youth development and tourism across the region.

Local leaders say the facility will offer young athletes from across the area a chance to grow their skills and try new sports—many of which they may not have previously had access to. But the impact won’t stop at the county line.

“This would be an opportunity for their youth, and an opportunity for tourism,” one official said, noting that the complex is designed to serve not just Barren County, but also neighboring communities like Metcalfe, Hart, Monroe, Green, and Columbia.

The facility is expected to draw visitors on a daily basis, providing both athletic opportunities for youth and an economic boost for the region. Although the project is still in its early stages, county officials are moving forward with plans to apply for federal funding.

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The Plans to Restore the Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium on Oʻahu

The Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium is one of only a handful of ocean-water natatoriums left in the world, and the only one of its kind in the U.S.  

Over the years this treasured site fell into disrepair and it was eventually closed in 1979. No one seemed to agree what should happen with the natatorium, which in 1995, earned a spot on the National Trust’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Some wanted it restored; others wanted it torn down.  

A century later the city is finally moving forward with plans to restore and reopen the natatorium.  

“We want the natatorium to be functional again,” says Andy Sugg, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s chief of staff. “There are absolutely no plans to tear it down.”  

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