I wonder if the people complaining about the entry fees have ever ran a tournament. Do you really realize how many hours it takes to put on a 50-100 team tournament??? Did you say volunteers???? We tried that the first year and parents were leaving their stations to go watch their daughter play and their relief parent had not arrived yet. The other problem with volunteers is, can you really depend on them and then hold them accountable??? How many can you trust with cash???
I don't like the "no cooler" rule but complexes have their rules that you deal with or don't use their facility. In the Toledo area we have the following parks:
1. Maumee Rolf Park--8 fields
2. Maumee Lucas County Rec. Ctr.--7 fields--(no coolers)
3. Toledo--CYO Complex--8 fields
4. Sylvania Pacesetter Park--8 fields--(no coolers)
5. Holland-Homecoming Park--4 fields
6. Perrysburg--Rivercrest Park--4 fields
7. Oregon Rec. Center--7 fields
All of these fields charge a rental fee and all of the concessions are part of the complex's profit. If you use multiple complexes, you need some one in charge of each complex, maybe a second person to cover the second quad, gate admission people, shirt and accessories people. Oh, don't forget, someone has to register all of the teams, make out the schedules, make up the rules, buy the balls, figure out how many balls for each complex, deliver the balls to each complex as well as tables and pop-up tents, schedule the umps, get the umpire money, get the admissions money and passes, pay the umps, get field directions for teams and fans, order tournament shirts and other items, price them, order trophies, pick them up and deliver to field. I almost forgot, someone has to deal with coaches who change their mind at the last minute, can't make the early scheduled game, deal with umps who don't show up, show up late, show up in wrong uniform, or show up in a grumpy mood and starts tossing people who complain about the "no cooler" rule or complain about admissions.
Complain about $10.00 weekend pass to watch your daughter play ball but won't think anything about buying a couple beers that they literally are "pi**ing" away within the hour.