Field Rental Rate To Change For Nonprofit Groups

ROGERS — Nonprofit organizations hosting sports tournaments in Rogers parks once received a break in rental fees. That changed last week when the Parks and Recreation Commission voted to change the fee structure for ball field rental.

“It costs just as much to set up the fields for an organization paying a reduced cost as it does as those paying the regular fee,” said Barney Hayes, parks director.

The different rates have been in place for years. The standard fee to rent the six fields at the Regional Sports Park for a weekend tournament is $2,040. For nonprofit organizations hosting a similar tournament it was $800, a difference of $1,240.

Nonprofit groups wishing to rent fields for tournaments must have proof they have nonprofit status from the IRS.

A 501(c) 3 is a corporation or community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

“Many of the traveling teams that host the largest tournaments have converted to a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization,” Hayes said.

Traveling teams don’t play in a community-based league. Teams are composed of players pulled from community leagues to travel and play in weekend tournaments only, park officials said.

A traveling team tournament may be termed nonprofit, but more money is made than it takes to run the tournament and that money goes to the organizers of the tournament, Hayes said.

“We have several fields rented by nonprofits, which means our taxpayers are supporting these organizations and I don’t think that’s fair to our residents. They shouldn’t have to support these groups,” Hayes said.

Tony Arnone, has a nonprofit group set up for his traveling baseball team, and hosts some of the largest baseball tournaments in Rogers, park officials said. Sanctioned by United States Speciality Sports Association, Arnone’s tournament usually has more than 50 teams in a three-day event scheduled in late May and early June, park officials said.

Arnone said Thursday he didn’t want to comment on the commission decision.

“I haven’t talked to anyone on the commission and I don’t think it would be fair for me to comment at this time,” Arnone said. “I might have a comment after I know exactly what the change is and when it takes place.”

George Wheatley, who also sponsored a United States Speciality Sports Association tournament this month, doesn’t have nonprofit group status. He does have a traveling team.

“I paid the full price for the field rental,” Wheatley said. “I stage tournaments all over the state and I can tell you Rogers has the most expensive fields to rent.”

Commissioners agreed to start charging the higher fee to nonprofit groups on Sept. 1.

“Sept. 1 is when we begin scheduling for 2014. It seems logical to make the switch at that time,” Hayes told the commission.

The commissioners also agreed they would allow price breaks on field rental in special situations.

“If someone’s house burns down, or someone is in need of financial help for medical bills or other similar situations, I think we should make some exceptions,” said David Hale, commissioner.

Commissioners agreed in such a case a letter would have to presented to the commission or someone would have to appear before the commission to request a price break.

“It will be based strictly on need and would be a one time thing,” Hale said.

Rogers school teams are allowed to us the parks at no charge as part of an agreement between the city and School District, park officials said.

“We made a deal several years ago the schools could use the ball fields if we could use school gymnasiums for basketball and volleyball tournaments,” said Rick Stocker, the city’s recreation director.

American Legion teams are also allowed to use the fields for free. Many of the first fields in the city were built for American Legion baseball and later incorporated into the park system.

Bentonville, Fayetteville and Springdale don’t differentiate between for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

“We charge everybody the same price. Our rental fees are based on cost and the cost doesn’t change based on profit or nonprofit status,” said Rick McWhorter, Springdale parks and recreation director.

Springdale has a daily $70 per field tournament fee for daytime use. If games are scheduled to continue into the evening the fee per field is $100, which includes one field dressing. It costs an additional $30 per field if more dressings between games are requested. There is a restroom cleaning fee of $25 and a $15 per field trash fee, park officials said.

Fayetteville has much the same policy, said Alan Bearden, Fayetteville Parks Department financial coordinator.

“We charge everybody the same price. If a charitable organization wants to hold a fundraising tournament they have to write a letter to the Parks Commission to get permission for a reduced rate. All the money raised, 100 percent, must go to the charity, nobody can make any money from such an event,” Bearden said.

Fayetteville rents fields for $85 per day without lights and $115 per day with lights, he said.

David Wright, Bentonville parks director, said the city charges the same per field rate for profit and nonprofit groups. Rent per field is $65 per day. If games are played at night the per field rate is $80.

“Our rates are based on cost. We need to break even on field rentals,” Wright said.

At A Glance

2013 Tournaments

Hundreds of teams play in tournaments on Rogers fields each year.

The list of 2013 tournaments include:

Park

Northwest Park, baseball

USSSA*, Tony Arnone, tournament director, May 31-June 2

USSSA*, George Wheatley, tournament director, June 7-9

USSSA*, Tony Arnone, tournament director, June 14-16

9AAA USSSA* State, Tony Arnone, director, June 28-June 30

Regional Sports Park, baseball

TBA , Melissa Whalen, Director, July 1-3

TBA, Tony Arnone, director, Aug. 17-18

National Softball Association, Mickey Blue, Aug. 24-25

TBA , Tony Arnone, director, Sept. 7-8

TBA , Tony Arnone, director, Sept. 28-29

Veterans Park, baseball/softball

Cal Ripken District Tourney, Rick Stocker, director, June 20-24

Hawg Showcase, Greg Baxendale, director, June 20-23

Mid-America World Series West, Tate Thoreson, July 5-7

SBR State, David DeBoard, July 12-13

National Softball Association Men’s Class B National, Rick Stocker, director, Oct. 4-6

TBA, Tony Arnone, director, Oct. 12-13

  • United States Specialty Sports Association

To be announced.

Source: Staff Report

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