So, Osceola County is fielding a new pitch in sports tourism.

The 192 Community Redevelopment Agency recently submitted its official proposal to build a $23 million complex consisting of 13 sports fields, housing, hotel and commercial space on the Judge Farms property on the south side of U.S. 192 across the street from Osceola Heritage Park. Officials with the CRA and the development company that wants to build it cited how the complex would create jobs, increase utilization of current ballpark space and serve as a catalyst for tourism and a new marketing platform for the corridor.

Well, it sounds good on paper.

But questions remain as to how the complex will be paid for and who will manage it when it is complete.

We believe what this pitch needs is a guarantee to the county that this is going to be profitable and not something that local taxpayers will be forced to subsidize. Remember the fact that revenue from Osceola Heritage Park has not met expectations.

The projected 165-acre athletic complex is expected to include at least one championship-caliber, stadium-style field with broadcasting capabilities, one or two on-site hotels, and separate housing that, proponents say, could become student housing for nearby Valencia College and Florida Christian College.

That would add local jobs and provide additional property and sales tax revenue to the county, all good things.

We like the fact that the United States Specialty Sports Association, which has its national headquarters at Osceola County Stadium and sanctions 30,000 national events, said that it would relocate more tournaments to Osceola County to fill the new ball field facilities. That could have potential.

Commissioner Fred Hawkins noted that, at the right price, the proposal could be a good one if what the USSSA says about bringing more tournaments to the area is true. But, he wants to see a commitment from the USSSA that it will bring such events. We applaud his concerns, and we agree with him.

Sports tourism is a growing trend and Osceola County is in a good position to take advantage of it.

But before we’re going to play ball, let’s have the right strategy in place, one that will benefit the county’s taxpayers, not further drain them.