A Florida company hired to manage the Keizer Little League Park is moving fast to be ready for ball games in March.
Executives with The Sports Facilities Companies outlined the nitty-gritty details of running a ballpark in a work session with the Keizer City Council on Monday, Jan. 12.
Councilors’ questions keyed on how local teams would get priority for play and rates and what would be done to improve the ballpark conditions.
The company has mapped out an ambitious expansion at the park, dramatically ramping up tournament play, boosting sponsorships and increasing concession sales.
Mike Higgins, the company’s regional general manager, walked through the details, inviting councilors to share thoughts.
“The more we know, the better we can deliver,” Higgins said.
The council awarded the management contract earlier this month. Higgins said company officials already have met with Keizer Little League and McNary Youth Baseball to orchestrate the change. The ballpark had recently been managed by a nonprofit affiliated with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
“Our team is looking forward to hitting the ground running to identify the opportunities and begin providing those services,” according to an email to Keizertimes from Billy Hilliard, a regional vice president for Sports Facilities.
One focus is concessions at the ballpark, a topic that came up during the council work session.
The company projects concession sales increasing from $58,000 in 2024 to $429,000 in the first year under new management.
That’s possible, Hilliard said in his email, because the company has a significant interest in renting fields for tournament play. That use typically brings in teams and families from out of the area.
“Sports tourism programming will provide significantly more door swings,” Hilliard wrote. That will produce more concession sales with “an enhanced selection of food and beverage.”
Hilliard told councilors that improvements to the concession stand are needed to “get more people served” and “not having those long lines.”
Councilors pressed for details on use of the fields. Sports Facilities executives assured them that local teams get top priority at fees less than others will pay. They explained they intend to schedule more use of the fields for practices and games.
Hilliard said the company also would work with Keizer businesses to alert them to large tournaments so hotels and restaurants are ready to serve more people.
Under the contract with the city, Sports Facilities will cover its costs through revenue from the park.
That includes covering payroll for Sports Facilities assigned to the Keizer park, estimated to cost about $115,000 a year.
The company also will draw a monthly management fee of $16,500 and get a share of sponsorships and net profits.
Sports Facilities projected sponsorship and advertising revenue of $56,250 the first year, compared to $2,150 in previous years under the previous management. Hilliard said the forecast is justified.
“The projection is still well below industry average,” Hilliard told Keizertimes.
The physical condition of the ballpark came up in the council discussion.
Councilor Lore Christopher said the Little League park is in “considerably worse shape” than in previous years. She wanted a commitment that fields and bleachers would be safe.
She asked Clint Holland, who she described as “Mr. Little League Park,” to address the issue.
City Manager Adam Brown acknowledged Holland’s years of volunteering at the park, noting the retired businessman has been on his “hands and knees” at the park, personally cleaning out drains.
Holland told councilors he’s been associated with the park for 50 years. He said there are “liabilities” at the park because of its condition.
He cited field lighting, noting that six lights are out on one field, the problem dating back as long as two years for some. He said the lighting for game play doesn’t meet legal standards.
Holland also described the need to winterize the park, including draining water systems. A bathroom heater doesn’t work, he added, and he couldn’t tell if heat in the concession stand functions.
Higgins gave the council a shopping list of immediate needs. Much of it is focused on food, such as a cooking grill, popcorn popper and a nacho cheese warmer.
Contact Editor Les Zaitz: [email protected]
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