More than a ballpark: League City has big dreams for baseball venue to boost tourism

What you need to know

The city has always owned the venue but previously contracted out different management companies to run it in return for a portion of the revenue generated, officials with the ballpark and city said.

However, the city opted in February 2024 to take over management of the venue after having issues with two previous companies, among which included late rent payments.

City officials then upgraded the venue with new digital scoreboards and renovated one of the venue’s two restaurant floors, among other changes, Ballpark Assistant General Manager Angelo Chiarello said.

The upgrades are part of the plan to bring in more business, such as the youth tournament Texas Youth World Baseball Classic. The event, scheduled from March 13-16, could boost the city’s profile and bring in more tourism, officials said.

The timeline of events for the ballpark includes:

• 2005: Ballpark is built for around $22.7M using city funds; city enters agreement with Big League Dreams USA
• January 2021: City Council terminates agreement due to deteriorating conditions
• Fall 2021: City enters agreement with TC Sports Group LLC, which will invest $2M into facility, however, city officials can't confirm if the amount was invested
• March 2022: Ballpark reopens
• February 2024: City terminates agreement and takes over management of ballpark

Built by the city as an economic development project in 2005 for around $22.7 million, the ballpark is 35 acres and offers six fields with an indoor pavilion, restaurants and bars, among other amenities, according to League City’s website.

It is the ballpark’s amenities that prompted Angel Romero, a Spring resident and Texas Youth World Baseball Classic’s organizer, to move the tournament to League City, he said.

“My kids are always asking when we’re playing at [the ballpark],” Romero said.

However, officials hope baseball isn’t all the facility can offer. Lauren Siple, business development manager for the Ballpark at League City, said her goal is to have the facility host different types of events, such as corporate business parties, wedding receptions and birthday parties.

Those future events can help bring in more people and revenue, both of which increased from from fiscal year 2022-23 to FY 2023-24, data shows. Officials expect that trend to continue.

Also of note

Romero said the tournament will consist of youth baseball players from all around the world competing for their respective countries.

Last year, which was the tournament’s inaugural year, saw 29 teams compete in Spring. That number is close to doubling this year, he said.

“We have kids from France, three teams from Mexico, two from Puerto Rico,” Romero said. “The success has been how big it’s grown. And ... League City has given us their full support.”

Numbers related to the tournament and ballpark include:

• $12M in projected tourism spending for League City as a result of the new tournament
• 23,000 visitors at inaugural tournament in 2024 in Spring
• 55+ teams competing from 12+ countries
• Ages 8-14 allowed to compete

League City has seen increases in spending from tourism and its hotel occupancy tax funds dating back to last year. HOT funds, which Convention and Visitors’ Bureau Manager Stephanie Polk said are a key measurement for tourism, stem from taxes collected by hotel owners.

The city’s HOT funds saw a jump from last year due to better tracking of short-term rentals from companies such as Vrbo and Airbnb, Polk said. The change brought it an amount equivalent to a new hotel coming to town.

Those short-term rentals are key to the city’s plans, as across its five hotels, there are about 500 beds in League City for visitors—a number Polk said likely will not be enough for everyone traveling in for the tournament.

Those visitors will not only generate more HOT funds but spend within the city as well, increasing the amount spent that comes directly from those visiting the city, Polk said. In total, officials anticipate those coming in for the tournament to spend roughly $12 million.

The outlook

Romero said he expects to continue to work with League City on future tournaments. In addition to continuing to host the TYWBC in the years to come, he wants to bring a softball tournament and possibly a tournament for high school players.

League City Mayor Nick Long said he feels this tournament and others are what the short-term future of the facility could look like.

However, in the years ahead, he said the city will have to decide whether to continue to run the venue, find another operator or repurpose it to help boost park offerings.

While Long said he’s willing to do any of those options, finding another operator was the one he said “doesn’t appeal to me much” given the past track record.

“I’ve definitely been pleased with the way city staff ... has handled [the venue],” Long said.

The city will also continue to talk about boosting the facility further. Ideas such as sponsorships and naming rights are ways the ballpark can continue to both build its brand and bring in money, Siple said.