BY JAMES T. NORMAN
The breakdown
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.
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, increas- ing 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.
League City has seen increases in spending from tourism and its hotel occupancy tax funds dating back to last year. HOT funds, which Con- vention 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.
League City HOT funds
League City has seen a steady increase in its HOT funds over the years, with the exception of 2020, which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
$1.1M
$889K
$790K
$650K
$609K
$403K
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Total direct travel spending in League City
The total amount of money spent in League City from people traveling has more than doubled since 2007.
$137M
$115.4M
$104.9M $107.8M
$83.8M
$71.8M $78.6M
$67.4M $62.7M
O cials hope to see more tournaments and events at the venue, but the ballpark’s future is unclear.
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
JAMES T. NORMAN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
NOTE: 2024 DATA IS NOT YET AVAILABLE
SOURCES: DEAN RUNYAN ASSOCIATES, LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
6640 South Shore Blvd., Suite 100 League City, TX 77573 713.852.6700 TexasBayCU.org
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BAY AREA EDITION
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