Grand opening for Global Sports Institute in Venice

VENICE, Fla. (WWSB) – It’s here! Thursday was the grand opening of the Global Sports Institute (GSI). It’s a moment that’s been months in the making for the City of Venice and Sarasota County.

There was a special ribbon cutting ceremony to kickstart the event, and that was followed by a celebration with food, music and a crowd of nearly 300 to usher in the grand opening of this new state of the art sports complex.

Our ABC7 Sports Dept. spoke with one of the organizers to help bring all of this together and she is filled with joy that this big day is here. “It just means everything,” Alexandra Shakirova, Chief Operating Officer of GSI, said. “Three months ago we couldn’t imagine that this place would be such a huge project for us. Everyone in the community has helped us bring this project together.”

Something else that has others, especially city officials excited is the potential economic impact the Global Sports Institute could have.

“I think it’s going to bring us up to another level,” Kathy Lehner, the President and CEO of the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce said. “The economic impact of not only new businesses wanting to move into this area and be close by. They’re just bringing more people into our community.”

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