By Ali Yenchick
Construction at Tampa Bay’s Sprowls Horizon Sports Park Presented By FloridaCentral Credit Union has reached an exciting milestone: the fields are nearly finished, and the technology that will power the guest experience is taking shape across the complex. From advanced lighting and officiating tools to live streaming and in-park viewing options, Sprowls Horizon is being built to deliver a big-league experience for athletes, coaches, and fans when it opens on February 28, 2026!
Musco Lighting & Next Generation Officiating Support
All playing surfaces at Sprowls Horizon will be illuminated with Musco Lighting systems, providing consistent, professional-quality lighting throughout the complex. On the six baseball/softball diamonds, Musco has also outfitted the facility with its UMPIRE-ASSIST™ technology, a cutting-edge system currently being beta tested at select venues nationwide, including ours.
UMPIRE-ASSIST is a computer- and hardware-based system designed to support and enhance officiating on the diamond. Using a combination of cameras and radar tracking, the system can detect whether a batter swings, define and monitor the strike zone, and track the actual path of the baseball while extrapolating its projected trajectory. These capabilities allow the system to collect, analyze, and visually display ball movement—creating new opportunities for broadcast enhancements, advanced analytics, and official use in umpire assistance at the field level.
At Sprowls Horizon Sports Park, this means umpires, coaches, and fans will benefit from more precise information on every pitch and play, delivered through an integrated ecosystem of cameras, radar units, tracking computers, and graphics processors working behind the scenes.
Advanced Baseball Analytics (With More to Come)
Beyond officiating support, the park will feature additional cameras and technology designed to capture baseball performance analytics such as spin rate, launch angle, and other key metrics that matter to players, coaches, and scouts. As final system specifications are confirmed, we’ll share more details on how these tools will power next-level player development and in-depth data for teams competing at Sprowls Horizon Sports Park.
Live Streaming with NBC SportsEngine Play
To connect families and fans no matter where they are, Sprowls Horizon Sports Park is partnering with NBC’s SportsEngine Play as the official streaming service for the complex. All six diamonds and the multipurpose field will be equipped for live streaming, making games available nationwide to parents, relatives, college coaches, and fans who can’t be at the park in person.
On-site, guests can catch all the action from multiple vantage points. TVs in the central plaza and at the Tiki Hut will broadcast live games from the Sprowls Horizon fields, creating a vibrant, connected atmosphere where fans can follow tournament action while enjoying food, beverages, and community spaces.
The Tiki Hut will also feature additional TVs carrying MLB, NFL, and other major sporting events, allowing visitors to stay plugged into the national sports scene while enjoying live events on-site.
Ball-Tracking on the Multipurpose Field
The multipurpose field at Sprowls Horizon will feature a camera and streaming system that uses ball-tracking technology to follow the action in real time. This system is designed to automatically track and frame the play—whether it’s soccer, football, lacrosse, or another field sport—providing a dynamic viewing experience both in-venue and via the SportsEngine Play platform.
As construction moves into its final phases, Sprowls Horizon Sports Park is emerging not only as a premier destination for competition but also as a technology-forward venue built to deliver pro-level lighting, data, and viewing experiences for every game. More updates are on the way as we finalize additional analytics features and approach opening day… just under two months away!
