Whats up with tourney/park rules this year!!

[default]

Again we are justifying it.

I'm not telling you I won't /don't do the same thing, but it is just a thought that I had.

"Those record companies charge too much Sarah, just go find a bit torrent and download the music yourself, FREE!"

Now if little Sarah went into the convenience store and walked out with a Coke hidden in her purse that SHE DIDN'T PAY FOR, that's stealing.

But since she LEGALLY downloaded her Ipod music through I-Tunes (and PAID for it once already), hopefully the tournament director won't tell her she can't bring her Ipod into the park UNLESS she buys the music AGAIN from the tournament's concession stand music department! Silly, huh?

 

[default]

I'm buying it. And I like the bucket cooler idea. A seat and a cooler and some warm balls. Brilliant!

 

[default]

There's a little thing out there called the 4th Amendment. I would love to see non-law enforcement people try to search your car for water coolers. Can you say LAWSUIT!

 

[default]

Agreed.

I'm not sure that a facility can make your entry into the park contingent upon a search if they so chose but NFL and other events do it all the time. I would say that it is an implied voluntary thing if you want to go past *this* point on private property. If you don't then you can just turn around and go elsewhere.

I've been to tourneys where I've felt ok with paying entry, etc. and I've been to ones that I felt like I was severely overcharged. Like others have stated I have the ability to decide not to go back there ever again.

 

[default]

There's a little thing out there called the 4th Amendment. I would love to see non-law enforcement people try to search your car for water coolers. Can you say LAWSUIT!

If there is a sign at the enterence to a parking lot saying no coolers allowed ... you could be asked to leave by the TD with a police escort if necessary. Many TD's don't go that far though.

Any tournament director that has a brain knows the money is made from the concession stand. Period. It's not from the entry fees.

Like in Goshen, the Goshen people run the concession. People that are running events has that option as well if they wish to run it. I just don't wish to run it. Goshen uses the money they make to support the youth programs they offer to the kids around here. It's an all-volunteer organization.

The entry fees are used for umpires, balls, trophies, etc... field rentals.

Lets take 12 teams for instance.. 5 gg for $400 (3 pool/double elims)

12 X $400 = $4800.00

Expenses:

Umpires: 18 pool games/23 DL games @ 65.00 a game = $2665.00

Balls: 4 doz at $55.00 a doz = $220.00

Field rentals: (if you have other age groups as well - there is a shared cost in this amount) but usually $800.00 a weekend for 4 fields for two days.

$4800
-2665
- 220
- 800
_____
$1115.00 ( Balance)

Trophies ( I hate giving dust collectors ) but trophies are $250.00 maximum for 1st and 2nd )

- 250.00
_______
$865.00 Profit on a non-rainy weekend.
-300 UIC fee
-Sanction Fees
_____________
Quess Profit ???

This is why some TD's collect a gate fee or parking charge to handle adverse weather and supply the fields with field dry at a cost of $10 - $13 a bag.

Now lets look at this figure:

$1115.00 balance
- 300.00 15 hoodies at $20.00 per hoodie = $350
- 125.00 2nd place trophies ( including team trophy)
- 40.00 1st Place Team Trophy
_______

$565.00 balance
-205.00 ( Umpire scheduling fees at $5.00 per game - 41 games )
______
360.00 balance

$300 Umpire in Chief costs ( some of these orgs want a UIC on premise.
______
$10.00 balance
- sanction fees varied costs per sanction
___________

In the RED !!!!!!

Save me t-shirt sales...LOL

 

[default]

There's a little thing out there called the 4th Amendment. I would love to see non-law enforcement people try to search your car for water coolers. Can you say LAWSUIT!

FYI if "non-law enforcement" is doing the 'searching' then its NOT 4th amendment (no government - federal / state actors- no color of title issues)...sorry but any "non-law enforcement" person searching your car for a cooler without your consent = trespass

 

[default]

Yep.

I'm making a bucket cooler this year just for these parks. Never had my "ball bucket" checked. May even put a false bottom in it to set a layer of balls in it so it looks legit. They'll need a Gatorade sniffing dog to catch me. I'll probably let my kids help me design and build it so I can teach them how to be innovative.

Hate to tell ya but I did it last year...didn't put the false bottom in it though gotta remember that one! Just filled it with ice and bottled water, they didn't even look twice

DD says we spend too much on her as it is there has been times where they charged a gate fee and she said it was stupid. There has been countless time when we were going to the movies and she would have her purse stuffed with candy and even microwave popcorn one time ;&

Luckily I live in Middletown where the tourney is Lenos so my DW's friend will be dropping us off lol 5 bucks is 5 bucks :yahoo:

 

[default]

Our College Showcase / ASA Qualifier never has a gate fee, allows coolers of any size or shape, dog friendly (Dog park), has walking trails, a fishing lake, skate park, etc.

This is one reason our tournaments fill up fast. :yahoo:

 

[default]

When you have a sponsor for an event.. you can do that. But, with most events in Ohio ran by orgs trying to raise money... they usually don't have that privilege.

Thus, a gate is required to help in the cost if it should rain.

 

[default]

There's a little thing out there called the 4th Amendment. I would love to see non-law enforcement people try to search your car for water coolers. Can you say LAWSUIT!

Love it, another constitutional person on here. Got to know your rights!

 

[default]

we have a little girl, so we always claim we need the ice to store her milk, although it may be hard this year because she's turning 3 in Aug.
I know we will visit a few places as such, like Findlay was like that, but i was allowed becuase it was for the "team". it will interesting to see what happens at compuware...is stingrays cooler friendly? it was a few years back

Stingrays is cooler friendly. But Ray, you had better bring enough for everyone.

As far as I remember, there were no cooler police at Compuware. There are lots of "gaps" in the perimeter.

 

[default]

Quake,
We have never had a sponsor before, yet still never charged a gate fee. We will get some food from our sponsor but thats it. We are not putting on this tournament to profit, we are trying to get as many players seen by College coaches and scouts as possible.

When an organization is in it for the profit.......Well......;&

 

[default]

Hey Ringer, Let me know when you business is up and running. I would like to get one of those buckets. By the way it will also each your kids good work ethics...if they make the fake buckets faster they will make more money.

I do have a serious question though-Is everyone being serious about the ice? My DD is a catcher and she puts ice on the back of her neck and eats it like candy. Buying their water doesn't always do the trick, she wants the ice. I have never been turned away for my cooler at any tourney in 5 years. Is this getting worse this year?

 

[default]

Yep.

I'm making a bucket cooler this year just for these parks. Never had my "ball bucket" checked. May even put a false bottom in it to set a layer of balls in it so it looks legit. They'll need a Gatorade sniffing dog to catch me. I'll probably let my kids help me design and build it so I can teach them how to be innovative.

Wish my dd would have thunk that up for her invention convention! Sweet.

 

[default]

There is no argument that putting on a tournament of any size is a VERY monumental task - especially if done properly. However, there were at least four high profile showcase tournaments we used to attend every year that did not charge gate fees OR have cooler restrictions. When DD was playing travel, that was the norm. I know at least three of these tournaments are still going strong, so they must know some secrets to funds management!

Admittedly, one of them (Stingrays) now has a token parking charge - but that's strictly OSU doing the charging, and I'm told Stingrays gets nothing from that. Believe me, I don't think you can park anywhere on OSU property without paying or having a parking pass. In spite of that, I challenge anyone to find a nicer venue for a tournament.

Maybe it's just the rebel in me, but I get very irritated when I feel I'm being taken advantage of. But hey - it's a free country, and I believe in "voting with my wallet".

P.S. A note on the ice: DD's 16u at Compuware was 90+ degree weather. Her catcher was soaking towels in an ice filled cooler (no charge) between innings. Contrast this to a "cooler police" Softball World venue: Stand in line at severely understaffed concession stand for 15+ minutes to pay for bottled water and no ice. "Team" coolers in dugouts had warm water with unknown debris floating in it . Management was indifferent... Still pi$$ed that ANYONE would treat their customers - especially KIDS - with such disdain! Think about where YOU want to send your DD, and where you want to spend your hard earned dollars...

It's a slippery slope folks! Next will be "preferred" (read: FORCED) hotels you must stay in to attend the tournament.

 

[default]

Our City does charge a field use fee but we will not pass that on to teams or families. Times are hard enough as it is without someone charging a gate fee. We eat the field use cost and just hope and pray we dont end up in the Red.

Over the years we have developed a great reputation of putting on a great tournament which helps us to bring in great competition at a fair price for everyone.

 

[default]

Our City does charge a field use fee but we will not pass that on to teams or families. Times are hard enough as it is without someone charging a gate fee. We eat the field use cost and just hope and pray we dont end up in the Red.

Over the years we have developed a great reputation of putting on a great tournament which helps us to bring in great competition at a fair price for everyone.

I don't understand why do they charge a field use fee? Do they prepare the field for you? It is to cover cost of clean up afterwards?

 

[default]

Quake,
We have never had a sponsor before, yet still never charged a gate fee. We will get some food from our sponsor but thats it. We are not putting on this tournament to profit, we are trying to get as many players seen by College coaches and scouts as possible.

When an organization is in it for the profit.......Well......;&

Now, how can you say that.... everyone of these orgs that are running tournaments in Ohio are in it for a profit. Every single one of them. Your teams/org profit by not going out of town and playing by playing in your own backyard.

 

[default]

There is no argument that putting on a tournament of any size is a VERY monumental task - especially if done properly. However, there were at least four high profile showcase tournaments we used to attend every year that did not charge gate fees OR have cooler restrictions. When DD was playing travel, that was the norm. I know at least three of these tournaments are still going strong, so they must know some secrets to funds management!

Admittedly, one of them (Stingrays) now has a token parking charge - but that's strictly OSU doing the charging, and I'm told Stingrays gets nothing from that. Believe me, I don't think you can park anywhere on OSU property without paying or having a parking pass. In spite of that, I challenge anyone to find a nicer venue for a tournament.

Maybe it's just the rebel in me, but I get very irritated when I feel I'm being taken advantage of. But hey - it's a free country, and I believe in "voting with my wallet".

P.S. A note on the ice: DD's 16u at Compuware was 90+ degree weather. Her catcher was soaking towels in an ice filled cooler (no charge) between innings. Contrast this to a "cooler police" Softball World venue: Stand in line at severely understaffed concession stand for 15+ minutes to pay for bottled water and no ice. "Team" coolers in dugouts had warm water with unknown debris floating in it . Management was indifferent... Still pi$$ed that ANYONE would treat their customers - especially KIDS - with such disdain! Think about where YOU want to send your DD, and where you want to spend your hard earned dollars...

It's a slippery slope folks! Next will be "preferred" (read: FORCED) hotels you must stay in to attend the tournament.

Sammy, you must be close enough to you that you don't have to stay in motels/hotels at Columbus tournaments. The room rate jumped $30.00 per night on a certain weekend for a certain tournament. Don't believe me - ask Doug Lenos. He had a thread on here awhile back complaining about how rates went from $99 to $129.

Preferred rooms... is already the norm at college showcase out West and definately in the South. You don't stay there.. you aren't in. And they could care less as they have teams waiting in line to get in.

 

[default]

yep.

I'm making a bucket cooler this year just for these parks. Never had my "ball bucket" checked. May even put a false bottom in it to set a layer of balls in it so it looks legit. They'll need a gatorade sniffing dog to catch me. I'll probably let my kids help me design and build it so i can teach them how to be innovative.

lmao