Charlotte Sports Park

Charlotte Sports Park

     Charlotte Sports Park is a stadium located at 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte Florida.  It is owned by Charlotte County. Ground was broken for the facility in 1986.  It officially opened in May 6,1987.

Ticket Area

     The capacity bus 7,600.  The surface is grass. Construction costs were 5 million.  Architect was Populou .General Contractor was Gilbane.

Charlotte Sports Park

    The building was renovated in 2008–2009.  Costs were 27 million.

Stadium

     Tenants included Tampa Bay Rays MLB  2009 to present

      Charlotte Stone Crabs FSL  2009 to 2020

      Texas Rangers MLB 1987 to 2020

Ticket Area

Charlotte County Fair

Charlotte County Fair

     The Charlotte county Fair Grounds are located at 2333 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte, Fl.

Ride Attraction

     It features an exhibition hall of 10,000 square feet; a barn of 5,000 square feet; stage and arena 175 x 225 square feet; arts and crafts building  of 2,500 square feet.

Rides

Refreshments

Refreshments

Ride

Ride

Venice Winter Headquarters Ringling Brothers Circus 1960 to 1992

Front Gate

     No longer needing the acreage it had used in Sarasota, Florida, Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus made the decision to relocate its winter headquarters to Venice, Florida in 1960.

     

The Arena

     Ringling s secured a 30 year lease for a 15 acre undeveloped lot.  This was next to the Venice Air Field. It also had an option for an additional 20 years on the property.

Venice Arena

     Rent was set at $1000 a year with adjustments based on the federal cost of living.

Demolition of the Venice Arena

Aerial View of Ringling Brothers Winter Headquarters Venice, Fl

     Construction was soon begun on a 55,000 square feet arena with 5,000 seats.   Costs to build the facility was $300,000.  The roof was 35 feet high; building measurement were 160 x 75  feet. There were two 60 foot wings.  There were adjacent structures for staging, wardrobe and costumes.

Same as above

     On November 29, 1960, a crowd of about 10,000 people gathered at the Seaboard Airline Station to welcome the first arrival of the Ringling Brothers Circus in Venice, Florida.

     The Venice High School Band played and Mayor Symthe Brohard sat atop a new Venice fire truck to lead the parade of officials, performers and animals to the site of the new Circus Winter Quarters.

     For the next 32 years, the circus was the major tourist attraction for Venice.  During these years, the circus underwent many different ownership.

Same as above

   In 1992, railroad service into Venice was discontinued by the Seminole and Gulf Railroad.  The circus subsequently.abandoned Venice as its winter headquarters.  The arena stood  at the site until 2016 at which time it was demolished

Site of former winter quarters Ringling Brothers Circus

Site of the Circus Arena Venice, Fl

Same as above

Outdoor Trapeze

     In September, 2019, the Venice City Council voted to have the former site where the Winter Headquarters of the Ringling Circus was located rezoned to  commercial.  They voted a.lease of 75 years to Michigan developer Kent Jacoby.  It was his tentative plan to build a hotel,  medical office and a restaurant.  This area was to be named Ringling Park.  This project never took place

Site of Circus Arena

On this post was a historic sign about the Winter Headquarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus in Venice, Fl

Same as above

Same as above

Same as above

Circus lot recentlty

326 Pedro Street, Venice, Fl

326 Pedro Street Venice, Fl

     This home built in 1926 recently came on the market for 1.2 million. This was constructed by the Brother of of Locomotive Engineers for V.M.Scott, an accountant.  The style was Mediterranean Revival. The architects were Stewart Walker and  Leon Gillette.

     The second owner was H.N. Bud Wimmers, A Venice Councilman.  He lived here for 43 years.

326 Pedro Street Venice, Fl

     Current owner is Shari Valencic. She purchased the home in 2001 for $335,000. She arranged for a 2 story addition to the back of the home.  Currently, the home is 3,344 square feet.There are 6 bedrooms and 5th bathrooms.

326 Pedro St Venice, Fl

326 Pedro St

326 Pedr