Seminole agrees to call sports facilities Boombah

Seminole’s year-old sports facility will have a new name Saturday: Boombah Sports Complex Seminole County, after commissioners approved the sale of the venue’s naming rights to the Yorkville, Ill., manufacturing firm Tuesday. According to the deal, Boombah will pay $750,000 to Major Display, a sports marketing and manufacturing firm based in Franklin, N.C., over the next 10 years to put its name on the signs, banners, scoreboards and promotions at Seminole’s sports complex on East Lake Mary Boulevard near the Orlando Sanford International Airport.

But Commissioner Carlton Henley, who cast the only vote against the plan, voiced concerns that Boombah is paying a relatively small sum — on average $75,000 a year over 10 years — for a deal that companies pay millions of dollars for naming rights in other markets around the U.S. “I don’t think we’re receiving enough cash,” he said. “... A tournament of 120 or 130 teams can bring them a considerable amount of money.”

The newly renovated Soldiers Creek Park on County Road 419 just east of U.S. Highway 17-92 also will add Boombah to its name, according to the pact. Boombah also will be able to hold a certain number of tournaments at both complexes, according to the contract.

Henley added the contract was vague and didn’t explain that the county would get a percentage of the revenues from admission tickets and concession sales. He also expressed concern that Boombah could effectively shut out other tournaments from Seminole with the rights to host its own events.

Joe Abel, Seminole’s leisure services director, said Boombah representatives have agreed to work with the county to prevent that.