Stay to Play events really get under my skin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Strohbro]

Making one stay in a specific hotel for a specific tournament is nothing but a pure MONEY grab!!

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Tell them the team is staying at a friends house and to go scratch........nobody can force you to stay anywhere.......

And I work for a Major chain and hated those rules and never played by them. Stayed where we wanted to on our terms....

 

[SoftDad]

It will eventually end. As soon as something happens at one of the required seedy hotels, or even a reasonable hotel, like bed bugs, MRSA infection, witnessing a crime, etc., the parents will sue the tournament organizers out of existence. And every other organizer will take note. A jury will side on the little girl that was forced to stay at the tournmant picked hotel every single time.

 

[Strohbro]

Besides the obvious that tournaments believe they can dictate everything and the pure money grab that it is for them. I want one person to give a logical reason to FORCE a team to stay at the hotels they feel we should stay at.
And unless I am incorrect, which I definitely can be on this, it is mostly PGF and larger showcases that do this.

 

[255scioto]

The CITY of Columbus requires that all 'out of town' teams (greater than 70 mile radius of Columbus) to book hotels through a specific Team Travel coordinator for all events at Berliner...Fastpitch, Baseball, and Adult softball. Supposedly it's to 'better track' things, but you have to believe there's more to that than just being nice to us!!!

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Stay-to-play started innocently as hosts negotiated deals with area hotels in a competitive market that made money for the host without costing teams extra. Basically, the event was bringing in customers and the hotels were willing to kick back a portion of the business they got from it.

There are several reasons why it has gone bad.
- Some hotels have wised up they can still get the business without discounting their rooms.
- "Travel coordinator" firms sprouted up to do the work, which increased overhead since hosts still want to make the same amount of money.
- There is no incentive to negotiate good deals since teams have put up with it.

Teams need to do their due diligence and then determine whether the event is worthwhile.

- Go through the tourney's offerings and compare the rates against what you can get directly. If you can't get prices because the rooms have been blocked off, look at the prices for a week before and after.

- Look for other hotels not being offered. Many coordinators will pursue other properties if you ask.

- Most events have a buyout fee (IME Triple Crown does not).

- If the event doesn't have a waiting list of teams to get in, try negotiating with the host based on what you found. High-profile teams have leverage since they help draw other teams and college coaches.

 

[Jose_canusee]

Berliner does Not require that. I have held tournaments there for 7 years of my own and my father has ran tournaments there for 30+ years. All they require from the TD is to list all the teams in the tournament and where they are staying. I had 88 teams in our tournament last year, we listed all 88 bc you have to then the hotels of the out of town teams. They do offer a discount at one of the downtown Columbus hotels,but, teams found others cheaper. They only require the paperwork from the TD, it is not a stay and play rule by the City of Columbus. Certain td's like to say that but thats their choice and Im sure they get a kickback.

 

[DougL]

Some use it to get comp rooms for out of town umpires. TCS does have a $300 buyout btw.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

- Most events have a buyout fee (IME Triple Crown does not).

TCS does have a $300 buyout btw.

My experience was TC/USA Nats and they definitely did not as our team inquired about it. Here is what I just found on other events:
- Fireworks and Sparkler (CO) say there is no buyout.
- World Series (west) have a $500 buyout.
- East Coast Summer Nationals (Myrtle Beach) has a $300 buyout.

Buyout policy for TCS varies by event.

 

[cz fastpitch fan]

This used to be a nice perk, so they could block rooms for out of state teams so they didn't have to research the area. I hear there are financial rewards to the tourney from the hotels.
That is straight up BS. If I want to stay at another hotel, how can they force us to?
OK...so guess what? We are all stay at a relative's house that weekend.

 

[Captain_Thunder]

This used to be a nice perk, so they could block rooms for out of state teams so they didn't have to research the area. I hear there are financial rewards to the tourney from the hotels.
That is straight up BS. If I want to stay at another hotel, how can they force us to?
OK...so guess what? We are all stay at a relative's house that weekend.

You pay their buyout of $300-600+ & they let you do whatever you want.........
It is crazy that it costs as much for a 2 bed run of the mill hotel, as it does cost to rent a condo for the week on a beach somewhere.........

 

[cz fastpitch fan]

Maybe sometimes this is a benefit, if an out of town team has no idea where to stay, then it can beneficial.
We have a parent responsible for arranging our travel and they enjoy finding a good deal for the team.
I wont' say the STAY & PLAY tourneys are bad so don't quote me on that. I just believe the teams and parents should be given the choice to stay where they want, without having to pay a buyout fee. A buyout tells me the tourney is receiving funds from the hotels.
If the tourney needs the money, put it in the registration or gate fee and be done. No need to tax the teams on the hotel stays as well.
Of course you always have the option of not playing in that particular tourney.
Who knows where this will lead?
I know....Louisville Slugger gloves and bats only used in this tourney or you pay a fee. Boombah uniforms only.
<sigh>

 

[mike_dyer]

I've never stayed in the hotel for one of these things. I don't even use the hotel that the person who finds a "deal" for the team comes up with for a couple of reasons.

1. They are never reasonably priced. You can usually find a decent room for half of the cost.

2. I don't care to have my kid around the other kids on the team for longer than it takes to warm up and play a game. Maybe a little time in between games.

Want some problems? Put 11 or so 10 - 17 year old kids in the same place and turn your back on them for a little while.

The problems will change as their ages got up, they're still problems though. The best way to avoid them is to avoid them.

 

[snoman76]

2. I don't care to have my kid around the other kids on the team for longer than it takes to warm up and play a game.

Really? So your DD doesn't build friendships with her teammates?

 

[mike_dyer]

When did I say she wasn't friends or at least friendly with them?

 

[coachjwb]

My experience is that the time outside of the games spent with her teammates and friends were as fun and as important in her development as the time on the field. You are right that there can be trouble, but if they are staying in the same room as the parents, and if the parents as a group are keeping an eye on the girls, that there's little reason or opportunity for that to happen. Now the brothers staying back at home while we were traveling, that was another story ...

 

[Louuuuu]

My experience is that the time outside of the games spent with her teammates and friends were as fun and as important in her development as the time on the field.

Absolutely! The team bonding aspect is equally important as the skills learned in practices and games.

(Plus, the players are less "open" to a player who never stays in the same hotel.)

 

[mike_dyer]

I had no idea my wife had joined the forum and was posting under multiple user names.

Hey, babe, can we discuss any further disagreements in our parenting styles and philosophies in private, please?

I'll be home late again, don't wait up.

See ya tomorrow.

 

[Louuuuu]

Thanks for the "heads up", sweetie.

 

[yossarian]

2. I don't care to have my kid around the other kids on the team for longer than it takes to warm up and play a game. Maybe a little time in between games.

Sounds to me like a perfect opportunity to learn how to deal with people and their problems, which she'll be doing her whole life!