TMRW Sports plans steel venue for TGL upon launch

TMRW Sports is pivoting its plan for its TGL and now has plans to build an upgraded structure ahead of its launch in Q1 of next year, according to sources. The league postponed its initial launch plans for January of this year after its competition bubble at the SoFi Center was damaged last November at Palm Beach State College.

Now, TMRW has plans to build a structure with insulated steel walls and a steel-supported roof, sources said. Seating capacity is not expected to change, and the dimensions of the facility will also remain relatively similar. The full footprint for SoFi Center’s plaza is 250,000 square feet, while the venue footprint itself is 150,000 square feet.

The newly built SoFi Center will be rated to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, whereas the air-supported venue that was damaged in November was only rated to withstand a Category 4.

TMRW Sports co-founder Mike McCarley made a presentation to Palm Beach State College’s Board of Trustees late last month looking for an amendment to the lease for the facility, and the group is scheduled to vote on it next Tuesday or Friday, according to its website. Another goal for TMRW as part of that presentation was to get the school to schedule a special meeting for March, which it usually wouldn’t have because of Spring Break.

Construction on the venue could begin as soon as the college’s BOT approves the plan. Construction on the venue is not expected to impact TGL’s planned launch date of January 2025.

A TMRW Sports spokesperson said, “TMRW Sports was pleased to have the opportunity to provide an update on its plan for constructing the upgraded venue using improved design elements and materials. The College is performing their duty and asking the right questions as part of a standard due diligence process.

"Our aim is to create a venue that the College and Palm Beach communities, as well as our fans and partners, will enjoy visiting for years to come. This is part of the process, and we are appreciative of both our wide-ranging partnership with Palm Beach State College and their agreement to create a special March meeting date ahead of their regularly scheduled meeting on April 16.”

Meanwhile, TGL opened a new Performance Lab south of the college in late February and has had players testing there. The league previously had one open in the Orlando area. The lab includes a 60x30, 1,800 square-foot screen (SoFi Center’s screen will be nearly 3,000) and allows players to hit from grass turf similar to what they’ll compete on in the main venue.