Legal question re sponsors / field

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Wondering if anyone might have any knowledge on our situation. We have a rec league which plays on a township-owned field in NE Ohio.
As a way to drum up sponsors this year we were offering "field sponsorships" for our league to area businesses. We were going to hang 2' X 2' banners with the sponsors' name and info on our backstop. This will come down after the season.

Just got a call from a township trustee who says to hold up. He's not sure if it's legal to put these up on township property. Any thoughts?

 

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Since it is in township jurisdiction, I am sure the township will give any organization a hard time on what is going up, especially if it looks like the township is recommending these companies on the banner. Good luck. Knowing townships, they should have an answer for you in 9-12 mos.

 

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Yes, you're probably right. This is the same township that balked at the thought of giving us some dirt/flume/topsoil/anything for the field last year after the floods of Sept. '04 washed away a good percentage of the field.

Their "legal council" representative doesn't work on Tuesdays, so they have to wait until tomorrow to contact him.

 

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It's not your field, so be happy they let you use the field and let them go through their processes to see if banners are permitted. If not, move forward. Trashing the township is not the answer.

I'm sure you'll have your answer in a few days, not 9-12 months.

 

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Trashing the township? Have you ever presented anything to a township? I will guarantee you that this will have to go before the trustees for a vote.

 

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do54
Easy there tiger. No one meant to hurt anyones feelings. Truth is anyone that has been dealing with the issues of field permits and field usage for any amount of time has a right to be a little frustrated. I have been doing it for about 20 yrs now and it is anything but clear sailing.
The township must first give permission. IF any other leagues of softball or any other sport are using the fields at the same time the would have a right to protest just as you would if they did it. My guess is the township is not going to recieve compensation so they will refuse. The only arguement for your case would be that the success of your league is a good thing for the township. Which all those participating in the league would certainly argue that it is.

 

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Good points lightningcoach.

I have been dealing with townships a long time and they are very slow in reacting to any kind of changes. Most of the time they understand our points, but it is like pulling teeth getting them to ok it. I can not do anything with them unless I show them how it benefits the township, which I understand....Your point about compensation is a very valid point. Once I get their ok on the issue at hand, the compensation issue is the next thing they want addressed.

 

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Instead of dealing with the township you might try this as a solution.

Have each team make up a vynil banner with the team and players names and put the sponsors name or logo on the banner with them. Hang them up on the back of the dugout when the teams play. The adverstising is there for all the people to see and the players get their name on a banner for grandpa and grandma. Its a win, win.

After the game take them down. You still have your sponsorship dollars and the township issue is bypassed unless of course someone tips them off on what your going to do. Then they will pass an ordanance on posting signs but that will take a couple of years according to previous time lines posted.

Just a suggestion.

 

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Thanks for all the post and suggestions thus far. Not that it makes any difference in this case, but here's a quick low-down on the field I'm talking about:

We are a small rural organization (3-4 teams) that belongs to a rural rec league of similar sized orgainizations. All four of our teams share this field. The field is only used by our teams from April practice until games end in late June.

The only other use of this field is by migrating geese, who do their part in helping to add to the field surface. If we quit using this field, it will pretty much become a cow pasture again.

I do appreciate the township allowing us to use this land. We currently have no where else to play. The township cuts the grass for us every 7 to 10 days. Last year they gave us a garbage can.

Any improvements made to the field have been by myself or past league administrators. It has been tough getting local businesses to sponsor teams. Last year we could only secure three sponsors for the four teams. Without sponsors, we resort to raising registration fees. I thought having "field sponsors" would be a good alternative. I thought of the "team banner" idea also, only we have no dug-outs to hang them on during games. It's just getting pretty tough to make things work so my kids can play ball.

 

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This is the first thing I would do if I was in that situation.
when practice starts I would try and have a few scrimmage games with out of town teams,I'm not talking about teams 2 miles away.
Make sure the founding fathers in the area are at the games,girls softball will draw a crowd. This will let potential sponsers know there is money in advertising. make the scrimmage games double headers with all four teams involved.

 

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Man oh man, you got a garbage can? And you want to hang some signs?? LOL

 

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flanagan- I have your solution. Simply run for trustee and changes things. Many complain and pass judgement, but don't want to serve.

 

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Thanks again for all of the input. I heard back today from one of our township trustees. He had checked with the county prosecutor, who helps the township on their legal matters, and he does say that it would not be legal.

I thought the lower priced "field sponsorships" would be a good alternative to businesses who didn't want to pay for a full team sponsorship. It's funny, I work with a guy whose league had so many sponsorship offers that they have to turn some down, and 30 miles away, it's like pulling teeth for us to find sponsors. (I'm not much of a salesman either).

Thanks again. Time to put the thinking cap back on.

 

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Do54, I can tell you are one person who likes to hear what he wants to hear. I don't complain, I tell it like it is in my opinion. If you don't think I give up enough time already for softball, let alone be a township trustee, you haven't been around softball very long, and have no idea who I am.

Now, back to the original poster....they had to call the county prosecutor? For a sign at a township field that no one ever sees? And they conclude it isn't legal? That pretty much sums up the support for my argument. Hey, at least you got that garbage can.

 

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It is my opinion which I have come by the hard way that most people in small town politics have no clue about sports and what it takes to really put it all together. I said MOST not ALL.

 

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Flanagan- NO, I have no idea who you are, but I am a 14 year varsity coach, head of a four-team travel organization, and a township trustee for 11 years. The county prosecutor IS the legal counsel for all townships in Ohio and as a township trustee, if the prosecutor says NO, the Board of Trustees better listen.

My point all along with this post has been that since it is owned by a government entity, it is subject to regulations that a privately owned facility is not. Unlike a city that is governed by a city charter, townships must follow the Ohio Revised Code. I doubt that the township in question is being intentionally difficult in this particular situation. If you haven't been in this type of position, it is sometimes difficult to understand the regulations that we are forced to operate under.

I wish the poster good luck in trying to raise some funds for his program. We all know that money is tight and I hope they find another way to raise funds and promote the girls program.

 

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do54-thanks for the clarification. I don't mean to argue with you. I could tell by your posts that you probably are a township trustee, and I know the trustees work hard at what they do. I deal with the townships a lot in regards to using their facilities, and I have spoken with several of the trustees who cite their frustration over how many hoops they have to go thru just to get anything approved...I respect your hard work as a trustee. I wasn't bad mouthing the actual trustees, just the system that they have to operate in. To me, to have to get the county prosecutor involved over a simple sign, while he has a murder case in the waiting, is mind boggling to me. JMHO.

 

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Flanagan-

I agree