SANFORD, Fla. — High school graduation season isn’t upon us quite yet, but when it is Seminole County schools usually looks at two locations: The University of Central Florida or the Dr. Phillips Center.

What You Need To Know

  •  Last fiscal year Seminole County hosted 89 tournaments that generated $58.8 million in economic impact

  •  Seminole County Public Schools spends about $200,000 a year on graduations at UCF and Dr. Phillips Center

  •  Seminole State College Looking to expand athletics program

According to Seminole County Public Schools, total facility rental costs split between schools is $200,000 to put on graduations.

Seminole County is not only looking to host future graduations, but attract more tourists as well with a place to host.

The Boombah Sports Complex in Sanford which attracts softball, soccer, and baseball tournaments from teams across the country annually is looking to expand.

In the last fiscal year the county hosted a total of 89 sporting events at the Bombah Sports Complex. County officials say those events generated nearly $60 million dollars in economic impact.

Dr. Irwin Hudson has been around Cental Florida basketball for decades. Not only has he coached local area high schools, but he’s also coached individual players privately.

His walls in his facility have jerseys and autographs of his former students.

All of these names, faces, and jerseys which played either professionally or collegiately once played in AAU basketball tournaments to get noticed.

“That’s where the colleges are going to go and look for them,” Hudson said. “You got programs that will put you out there, but if you are a great high school coach, you are going to push some of your players but if you are not playing travel basketball it’s really hard to get that exposure.”

Seminole County is planning to now build a state of the art indoor facility. They don’t just want to host high school graduations, but youth wrestling, volleyball, and basketball tournaments as well.

“This is a game we are already in with the Boombah Sports Complex,” Seminole County Commissioner Jay Zembower said. “We already know there is a desire and a need to fill those gaps for more indoor sports complexes.”

Zembower also says the county expects a financial impact of $152 million dollars in just the first few years of opening.

From restaurants, to hotels, and fees at the venue, Hudson said participating in AAU sports on the weekends adds up for families.

In addition to hosting youth sports, Seminole State College is also looking to the possibility of adding to their sports department to the new facility.

“It gives us the opportunity to dream,” Seminole State College President Georgia Lorenz said of the potential facility. “I know there’s a lot of interest in basketball in particular, and once upon a time Seminole State did have a basketball team.”

Irwin believes the complex, when open, can benefit not just out-of-town programs looking for a place to play, but local teams wanting to stay and play as well.

“What they need here in Seminole County is something big that will keep the kids here,” Irwin said. “Cause its expensive, travel basketball is one of the most expensive things.”

The commission still needs to approve the proposal, but leaders hope to break ground in the next few years.

Not only would graduations for both high schools and Seminole State have the potential to be held in the county, but Zembower also said the facility would be used as a hurricane shelter.