Newberry talks Nations takeover

NEWBERRY – The Gainesville Sports Commission (GSC) is in the process of ironing out a contract with the City of Newberry to run Nations Park under the proposed title “Sports Venue Enterprises.” This subsidiary of GSC could operate and manage Nations going forward. The contract is similar to the one already in place with Nations, but with a few modifications.

One change is that the city is required to post $100,000 for the first year’s operating expenses. The hopeful expectation is that the county will release the rest of the 1 percent bed tax, about $75,000, that was dedicated toward the project from the beginning.

The city also signed a contract with Coca Cola that will provide operating revenue for Sports Venue to run the park, worth around $40,000 for the first year.

Lou Presutti, who was once a major player in the park’s operation, will be a tenant under the new contract, essentially an organization that comes in and puts on tournaments. The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSA) will be a tenant, along with other interested parties, such as female softball and little league baseball. Tenant revenues will be contributed to Sports Venue Enterprises for operation as well.  

USSA has already booked up the spring, selling out the first of three tournaments. Saturday, Feb. 22 is the first tournament, with about 80 teams signed up and ready to play. The second and third tournaments take place in the first and second weeks of March.

“That’s a lot of people the park is already projected to bring in. Quite frankly, we are wondering where everyone will park,” said Commissioner Joe Hoffman at the workshop meeting.

As far as the timeline, for everything to be locked down with Nations, City Manager Keith Ashby said he is optimistic.

“I think the pace is right,” he said.

“Any new business takes a lot to get off the ground. This one is getting under its feet, and we are seeing the tournaments come in.”

There will be another negotiation session to tighten up the language so the commission knows exactly what the City’s obligations and liabilities are before it approves the contract and sends it on over to the GSC’s board to be approved.

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