Panama City Beach Sports Complex Announces General Manager

One of the newest, premium sports tourism complexes in the nation, Panama City Beach Sports Complex, spearheaded by Visit Panama City Beach and Sports Facilities Management (SFM), has hired a General Manager J.D. Wood. Wood is an experienced sports tourism industry leader who has had the privilege of working with prestigious sports organizations including the Dallas Sports Commission, National Senior Games and Texas A&M Athletics.

The hiring process was a selective and lengthy nation-wide talent search led by SFM, the sports tourism and recreation management firm headquartered in Clearwater, FL. The team at SFM is confident in Wood’s abilities to run the facility that will service the unique and well-known destination of Panama City Beach with a focus in youth and amateur travel sports in the ‘Gem of the Florida Panhandle’.

“We wanted to be sure we found the right person for the role, and we used our national network to narrow our selection. We have high expectations for this facility and knew Wood would be the ideal candidate for the position” says John McDonald, VP of SFM.

The facility, opening in May 2019, will be a world-class outdoor sports complex catering to travel sports programs throughout the southeast region. The project is located on 210 acres of donated land and will be one of the largest complexes in the southeast to a flexible arrangement of turf and natural grass long fields and baseball diamonds. In addition to the 13 fields, there are plans to include dedicated training facilities, a unique “Vendor Row” with shops and restaurants, as well as two championship stadium fields that will each seat 1,500 spectators. Not to mention 27 miles of white sugar sand beaches just a short drive away.

Wood is enthusiastic about his new role at the complex, stating: “I am excited and appreciative of the opportunity to be named the General Manager of the brand-new Panama City Beach Sports Complex. The opportunity to join the SFM family and be a part of a great team in an amazing destination is something that I could not pass up! I look forward to adding to the tourism landscape in Panama City Beach and helping establish it as year-round sports tourism destination.”

If you would like more information about the Panama City Beach Sports Complex, please contact John McDonald (information above). For inquiries on booking your tournament or event at the facility, please contact J.D. Wood at jdwood@sportadvisory.com.

About Panama City Beach Sports Complex: The Panama City Beach Sports Complex is located within the Breakfast Point development and is the premier destination for travel sports tourism in the Florida panhandle. The facility features 13 rectangular fields including nine with artificial surfaces and two stadiums seating up to 1,500 spectators. The flexible design allows for soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football and flag football, as well as baseball and softball to be played. The Panama City Sports Complex is a facility managed by Sports Facilities Management, LLC.  For more information, visit: https://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/sports/panama-city-beach-sports-complex/

About SFM: The Sports Facilities Management, LLC (SFM) and The Sports Facilities Advisory, LLC (SFA) are both headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. SFA, founded in 2003, has produced more than $8 Billion in institutional-grade financial forecasts for youth and amateur sports complexes, while SFM provides industry-leading, results-driven management solutions for sports, fitness, recreation and event venues, nationwide. Since 2014, SFM-managed venues have hosted more than 50 million visitors. For more information, visit: www.sportadvisory.com.

About Visit Panama City Beach: Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. In addition, Panama City Beach’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. For more information, call 850-233-5070 or visit the official website of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at https://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.

About Panama City Beach Sports Complex

The Panama City Beach Sports Complex is located within the Breakfast Point development and is the premier destination for travel sports tourism in the Florida panhandle. The facility features 13 rectangular fields including nine with artificial surfaces and two stadiums seating up to 1,500 spectators. The flexible design allows for soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football and flag football, as well as baseball and softball to be played. Panama City Beach Sports Complex is a member of the SFM Network, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing network of sports facilities and is operated by the industry-leader in outsourced operations, Sports Facilities Management.