Why It’s Worth Building a Custom Home Close to Entertainment – Including Sports Venues
When designing and building an incomparable custom home, the location of your property plays a major role in the process. One of the most important factors in selecting a fine community, among weighing A-rated school districts, affordability and safety, are the impeccable amenities nearby in the form of shopping, dining, entertainment and major attractions – including premier sporting events. In fact, the Suncoast has, and continues to be, a prime destination for sports tourism with visitors exploring Sarasota and Manatee counties in search of more than just award-winning beaches.
For local homebuyers who aspire to live in close proximity to exhilarating, endless activities found across our region, there’s no better place to consider than the latest amenity-packed neighborhoods located in the renowned master-planned communities found within Lakewood Ranch and Wellen Park. And with the MLB’s spring training season having started in late February, you’re undoubtedly within driving or walking distance from a full slate of exciting games hosted at stadiums in Bradenton, Sarasota and North Port. Here are two communities to consider when you’re making the decision to design and build a custom home near all the action – including year-round entertainment.
World-Class Wonder at Wild Blue – And Beyond
The latest community to be developed in the award-winning Waterside at Lakewood Ranch, Wild Blue blends a modern Florida feel with breathtaking concierge amenities, ranging from its resort-style clubhouse with a pool café and bar, to a wetland overlook and boardwalk, lakeside and preserve trails, a theater, fitness studio, workout classrooms, golf simulator and more. And not only is Wild Blue situated minutes away from Waterside’s vibrant 36-acre town center, but also just a turn away from the Sarasota Polo Club that’s expected to draw an estimated 50,000 spectators on Sundays throughout its season running Dec. 31 to April 13. Regarded as one of the “largest, most dedicated and enthusiastic polo communities in the world,” each match is truly a tailgate with spectators’ tents lining the manicured Bermuda grass field, which also includes a midfield pavilion and VIP Champagne Lounge.
Coastal-inspired living meets convenience in Wild Blue, where Lee Wetherington Homes’ Cobalt and single-story Sapphire models open March 9 for you to experience, as I-75 is just minutes away, allowing easy access to legendary Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota and Bradenton’s LECOM Park – the Grapefruit League homefields for the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. Among areas with the most spring training history, the Suncoast is at the top of the list with roughly 150 years of heritage. And if you’ve never attended a game, you’ll be in the perfect community to finally see fast-paced baseball and world-class sports venues, like Nathan Benderson Park adjacent to sweeping University Town Center. In fact, our CEO, David Hunihan, recently experienced a unique, entertaining approach to baseball in the Savannah Bananas’ famous “Banana Ball” world tour.
Entertainment’s a Walk Away at Everly in Wellen Park
Exquisite estate home sites and a blend of forward-thinking yet timeless custom home designs are the start of what’s in store in Everly at Wellen Park, where our new models – the Haven and Caravel – are open this month to tour. Not only is the newest neighborhood within one of Florida’s fastest-growing communities located near a bounty of wraparound services, which we covered in-depth in September’s blog post, but also the MLB’s most recently completed spring training venue. CoolToday Park, the Atlanta Braves’ stadium that opened for its first season in 2019, is only a short distance from the serenity of Everly and bustling Downtown Wellen’s growing shopping, dining and entertainment district.
CoolToday Park intertwines our unique Florida lifestyle with Braves history, from the Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill and the Clubhouse Team Store that are open six days a week to beautiful murals of celebrated players like Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux. For baseball fans, it’s a stadium that has generated conversation since the first pitch was thrown – and a destination Everly homebuyers can enjoy year-round. From trivia nights and local live music to Venice Symphony concerts and the Florida Complex League Braves’ season in the summer, there’s something wonderful for anyone in search of entertainment outside of their sanctuary.
