Working out with pros and top trainers takes on a new meaning today as Sports + Field at Seven Oaks opens to the region's preeminent athletes and Tampa Bay community.

As the only athletic and fitness center offering elite strength training and conditioning to professionals and amateurs under one roof, Sports + Field appeals to professionals, collegiate athletes, Olympians and amateur fitness enthusiasts wanting year around training for peak performance.

Developed and owned by Strong-S Corporation, the $10.5 million facility is north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel and poised to be the Mecca for the region's top and emerging athletes in football, baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, track, golf and other sports.

The two-level facility has world-class strength and cardio-training equipment, an NBA-style basketball court/gymnasium, a second-floor group fitness room, an outdoor 50-yard conditioning and sprint field and professional baseball practice area.

Sports + Field is the brainchild of Tatsuya Okawa, Strong-S president. The Japanese-born Okawa is an expert in sports training and owns the American Basketball Association's Harlem Strong Dogs. At 39, he is recognized as a savvy businessman and authority in strength and conditioning training, with clients including professional baseball players Hideo Nomo and Norihiro Nakamura.

"Our goal is to bridge the gap between the professional athlete and the community in a top-notch facility offering the best in strength and conditioning talent," said Okawa. "The concept is to build harmony in mind, body and spirit with emerging and established athletes in a shared setting."

The center is staffed by nationally-recognized sports trainers. Aaron Komarek, Sports + Field's vice president/director of athletics and sports performance, has trained notable sports figures and teams, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Storm and tennis pro Jennifer Capriati.

Selecting Tampa Bay for Sports + Field made economic sense, said Motokuni Hasegawa, CEO/CFO of Sports + Field. "We were attracted to the climate, number and variety of professional teams and resident athletes, and abundance of pre-season baseball games," said Hasegawa.

While the center offers luxury workout rooms, equipment, showers, lockers, sauna and massage facilities for Platinum and Emerald members, the areas are separated. Platinum memberships are available to elite athletes or companies associated with professional, Olympic or collegiate sports with amenities essential to elite athletes. Emerald memberships are open to the community.

Any member can view elite athletes through glass partitions as they train on the basketball court or athletic field. Controlled scheduling allows Emerald members to use the court, field or baseball area when unreserved by Platinum members.