Clearwater Softball Complex to Undergo $20M Renovation

ESPN analyst confirms major upgrades coming to the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational venue.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida, home to the annual Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational softball tournament, is set to undergo a $20 million renovation starting in 2027. ESPN analyst Michele Smith revealed the plans, which include building four mini-stadiums with press boxes, expanding seating to 2,000, upgrading lighting, and adding plug-and-play technology for scouts and coaches.

Why it matters

The Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational is one of the highest-profile softball events in the country, drawing top collegiate teams and attracting national media coverage. The planned renovations will modernize the aging complex and enhance the experience for players, coaches, scouts, and spectators.

The details

The $20 million renovation project will transform the 40-year-old Eddie C. Moore Complex. Key upgrades include building a two-story facility with four individual broadcast areas and other spaces to give each field a stadium-like atmosphere, expanding seating capacity to 2,000, upgrading the softball field lighting to LED, renovating the dugouts to concrete structures, and improving sightlines for spectators. The new building will also feature plug-and-play technology to enable easy video streaming for scouts and coaches.

  • The renovation will begin the day after the 2027 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational tournament ends.
  • The annual Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational tournament takes place each February.

The players

Michele Smith

An ESPN analyst who confirmed the renovation plans for the Clearwater softball complex.

Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational

An annual high-profile softball tournament held at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.

National Fastpitch Coaches Association

The organization that hosts its annual Leadoff Classic event at the Clearwater complex, with multiple games airing on MLB Network.

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What they’re saying

“We've got a $20 million renovation that's going to start the day after this tournament ends in 2027. So, next year, the day the tournament is over, they are going to start field one through four. They're investing, and when I say they, the city of Clearwater, Pinellas County, is investing over $20 million to make four mini stadiums with a press box. It's going to be awesome.”

— Michele Smith, ESPN Analyst (SI.com)

What’s next

The renovation plans will be finalized and construction is scheduled to begin immediately after the 2027 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational tournament concludes.

The takeaway

The planned $20 million renovation of the Clearwater softball complex underscores the growing importance and popularity of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational tournament. The upgrades will modernize the aging facility and enhance the experience for players, coaches, scouts, and spectators, solidifying the event's status as one of the premier softball tournaments in the country.