Developer of stalled hockey arena is out of time [South Florida]
Yet the multimillionaire and former president of the AFLAC insurance company is probably best-known here for one of the most visible development flops in the region: the unfinished hockey arena in Lakewood Ranch.
Now, as a July 28 foreclosure sale of the land approaches, Diaz-Verson is repeating his oft-made claim that he can, and will, complete the partially built structure now standing near Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and State Road 70.
But is it more talk? After all, most expect him to lose the property to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of Lakewood Ranch and the property mortgage holder in the foreclosure proceeding.
Diaz-Verson has also been making this renewed claim for the past two months, repeatedly insisting that a very important announcement is just weeks away.