Tag: Palm Beach State College

Check out new drone shots of the nearly-completed TGL arena for league led by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy

Crews began construction on March 18 and now are working toward full “dry-in.”

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida — The indoor golf arena rising on the Palm Beach State College campus in Palm Beach Gardens now resembles a nearly enclosed building.

Five months before teams of players from around the world begin to compete in TGL team play there, crews have completed work on the towering SoFI Center’s roof and sides.

Next, they will work on the steel framing for its “surrounding concourse,” a part of the building that juts out in the front. This will be the arena’s entrance area with space for concessions, according to a spokesperson for TGL presented by SoFi.

TGL is the interactive golf league that’s led by PGA Tour players Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who both have homes in the region. The first match is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN on Jan. 7, 2025, during prime time.

Crews began construction on March 18 and now are working toward full “dry-in” — when the building’s shell is complete and protected from wind and rain — in early September.

After that, interior and tech teams will install some of the SoFi Center’s technology, including rigging the arena for lighting, cameras and audio, installing motorization tech under the putting green and putting in screen framing and LED boards.

A 46-foot-by-64-foot Jumbotron-type screen will also be installed in time for a full rehearsal in mid-fall.

These same tech elements were originally installed in an inflatable dome, the first iteration of the arena, according to the spokesperson. Those plans were scrapped when blustery weather and a power outage left the dome in tatters.

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her atmwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism:Subscribe today.

TMRW Sports changes plans for TGL, to build steel venue, per report

Construction on the venue is not expected to impact TGL’s planned launch date of January 2025.

The TGL is going to have an upgraded venue when it begins in January 2025.

TMRW Sports is building an updated structure before the TGL launches next year, according to the Sports Business Journal. The league postponed its initial launch plans after the competition bubble at the SoFi Center at Palm Beach State College in Florida was damaged in November.

TMRW Sports has plans to build a structure with insulated steel walls and a steel-supported roof, according to SBJ. Seating capacity isn’t expected to change, and the dimensions of the facility will also remain 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 was pleased to have the opportunity to provide an update on its plan for constructing the upgraded venue using improved design elements and materials,” a TMRW Sports spokesperson said in a statement to Golfweek. “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.”

SBJ reported TMRW Sports co-founder Mike McCarley made a presentation to Palm Beach State College’s Board of Trustees in February 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.

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.