ASHLAND — The Ashland native behind an athletic media brand unveiled plans Friday morning at an inaugural golf outing that includes construction of a sports complex.
Dr. Zach Bernhard, owner of High Speed Low Drag, questioned why his vision — an indoor football field, multi-use courts and a hub for the brand — couldn’t be done in Ashland?
“Why not? There’s no reason it can’t be centered in Ashland,” he said, emphasizing the city’s centrality between Cleveland and Columbus.
Bernhard shared some of his vision among four-person teams — and other special guests — for the inaugural HSLD Sports Golf Open at Ashland Golf Club.
Other guests included former Ohio State Buckeye quarterback and NFL wide receiver Braxton Miller, city leaders such as Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, Ashland City Schools Superintendent Steve Paramore and the school district’s athletic director, Jason Goings.
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Aside from unveiling the HSLD Sports Complex plans, the golf open served several purposes:
- to kick off another season of HSLD’s sports coverage of high school and collegiate sports
- to curry favor with investors and philanthropists for the HSLD Sports Complex
- raise money for The Braxton Miller Foundation, which focuses on STEM education and activities for children
- provide a venue for former Ashland University football coach Lee Owens to sign copies of his book “The Spirit of a Team,” with an expected release Sept. 2
‘A big-town’ idea
Bernhard’s father, Dr. Matthew Bernhard, purchased the 5.6-acre property at 288 E. Fourth Street in May, next to the former National Latex building, county real estate records show.
The idea, Zach Bernhard said, is to create a community center that could be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There would be indoor courts used for multiple sports (pickleball, football, basketball, etc.).
The building would also serve as a hub for the HSLD brand — printing and merchandise — and possibly host an athletic medical and training center.
Zach Bernhard said his idea isn’t new. There are other such centers in Ohio, such as T3 Performance in Avon.
“It’s a big-town thought,” he said.
He quickly added, however, that Ashland is capable of hosting such a facility.
“It makes sense. Ashland is an hour away from these big cities. There’s lots of foot traffic here, we’re a midwest central location. I want people to see Ashland as a first-to-market area for youth sports and athletics,” he said.
A pivot
The unveiling comes just eight months following Bernhard’s purchase of the old Frontier building on Main Street in downtown Ashland. At the time, the building held similar aspirations.
“But the floor plan and its bones, it’s just not big enough for what we want to do,” Bernhard said.
He still intends on securing state grants to fund a facelift inside; it needs it.
“It’s been vacant for 30 years,” he said, adding the building is riddled with asbestos. “So we’re clearing it out, giving it a facelift.”
He holds plans for the building close to his chest now, but said he hopes the building moves in a “restaurant direction.”
“It’ll be very cool … it should be a flagship for downtown Ashland,” he said.