The Bryan city council is holding a special meeting Thursday (July 18) at 3 p.m., in part to consider an early termination of its Travis Field stadium agreement with Infinity Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of Brazos Valley Bombers baseball and Twin Cities Toucans soccer.
Below are interviews and statements from city of Bryan officials and Infinity owner Uri Geva.
Update July 16, 2024 at 10:00 p.m.
The city of Bryan responds to the owner of the Brazos Valley Bombers and Twin Cities Toucans wanting to continue to play in the city stadium.
The statement on the city’s website says the parent company of the Bombers, Infinity Sports Entertainment, requested to renew the agreement on April 28, 2024.
On May 18, the city sent a renewal offer that changes what has been for 18 years an exclusive facility use agreement where Infinity did not pay rent or utilities. According to the city’s statement, Infinity rejected the proposal to rent the stadium at a rate to be negotiated and cover the cost of utilities for three months during the Bombers and Toucans seasons. And the city desired to explore the stadium’s use by others while allowing the Bombers to remain.
The city’s statement also said “During negotiation discussions dating back to 2006, the agreement was expected to significantly boost tourism revenue. However, Infinity’s tax impact included $6,718 in HOT and $8,147 in sales tax revenues in 2023.”
The city also brought the decision in 2017 to spend about $1.7 million dollars in stadium improvements, while Infinity agreed to participate in the cost by paying $27,836 a year for 10 years.
These and other factors in the city’s statement resulted in the city council deciding to consider the proposed termination of Infinity’s exclusive use agreement during a special meeting Thursday (July 18) at 3 p.m.
Original story:
This may be the last season of Brazos Valley Bombers baseball and Twin Cities Toucans soccer in Bryan.
The owner of the Bombers and Toucans says the city of Bryan wants to terminate an agreement to use the city ballpark after this season, one year before the current contract expires.
Uri Geva tells WTAW News he is interested in continuing a relationship that began in 2006.
The Bryan city council has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday (July 18) at 3 p.m. to consider terminating the agreement. Geva asks for Bombers and Toucans fans to share their experiences during the public comment portion of the council meeting.
Geva told WTAW News “It just feels like a very sad moment from a decision making for council, but it can still be reversed. It’s not too late to save the Bombers in the 2025 season that can be played in Bryan.”
Geva said he was notified last Thursday (July 11) about the city’s intent to terminate the agreement.
Noting renovations at the Bombers ballpark preceded the city of Bryan’s addition of new youth baseball fields next door and the development of Midtown Park, Geva told WTAW News “as a catalyst of this whole redevelopment, it’s sad that we’re the ones that are getting kicked out to the curb because there’s a shiny new object that the city wants to have somebody else take control over without thinking about the repercussions of what it could mean to not having the Bombers or the Toucans playing their home games in Bryan for the 2025 season”.
In an e-mail Geva provided to WTAW News that he sent to the city manager and a deputy city manager, Geva wrote “In a world where commitments are seldom honored, we hold onto the hope that the city staff can stand behind their contractual commitments and the word they gave us eight years ago. We believe that forgoing any future plans for just one more year to ensure promises are kept would not only honor the agreement but also reinforce the trust and goodwill that have been the foundation of our longstanding relationship with the City of Bryan.”
Geva’s e-mail also says “If the City of Bryan is determined to prevent the Bombers from finishing our current lease, which ends in December 2025, please inform us by July 19, 2024, so that we can inform the Texas Collegiate League we will more than likely not be able to play in the 2025 season due to this. Alternatively, if the City of Bryan can confirm the Bombers abilities to rent the facility for their home games at a reasonable rate (similar to other TCL teams), while retaining the ability to sell concessions during the season and having the abilities to sell annual sponsorship for all signage in the facility (not including naming rights) the Bombers could continue to call Bryan home. We are able and available to meet about these details any time to ensure the Bombers can communicate to the league they have a place to play by the end of this week.”
Geva’s e-mail also stated if he is not allowed to complete the current lease, “a discussion about the compensation the city would owe the team for the significant improvements made to the park along with the damages to canceling the Bombers ’25 season would need to arise and we will defer to legal council to handle all of those discussions.”
As of July 16, the Bombers have six more regular season home games and one home playoff game.
Click below to hear comments from Uri Geva, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver on July 16, 2024.
Click below to hear comments from Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez and mayor pro tem James Edge, visiting with Scott Delucia on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs July 17, 2024:
E-mail sent by Uri Geva, July 17, 2024:
The following information below are the FACTS, a lot of them. There is so much from 18 years of data that we hope these numbers provide a little bit more insight into a partnership that was far from FREE to the Bombers. We ask council to vote NO on terminating the lease for convenience and to honor the lease for 2025.
Economic Impact and Community Value
• Tax Revenue: In 2023, Infinity Sports Entertainment generated an Estimated HOT Revenue for the City of Bryan alone of $11457* and paid $15472 in sales tax contributing significantly more than reported.
• The Bombers had a $1.72M of economic impact in 2023 alone*
• Since 2017 the Bombers estimated HOT revenues for the City of Bryan have been $91,507* and the Bombers provided a total economic impact during those 7 years of $13.2M*
• Tourism Boost: Events hosted at the ballpark generated 49,614 visitors last year, supporting local businesses and hotels.
• Community Engagement: Our teams have created over 30 summer jobs and 4 year round local jobs, hosted 271 teams at the ballpark and held multiple community events (Boofest, Chamber Softball Game, United Way, Children’s Museum Family Day, Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies, Little League Opening Ceremonies, etc.), and contributed thousands of gifts to local charities.
* These estimates are based on the City of Bryan provided calculation for Tourism & Economic Impacts that are agreed and submitted to the state annually.
** Sales Tax total is for the Bombers and the concession company at the ballpark Infinity Food & Beverage
*** The ballpark generated almost no revenues to the city prior to the Bombers arrival
Investment in the Ballpark
• Facility Improvements: Since 2006, Infinity has invested over $813,124 in renovations and maintenance of Edible Field, including the $29354* annual contribution for the 2016 improvements. Here is a link to the initial story from the Bombers about the original renovation at the ballpark https://bvbombers.com/team/news/index.html?article_id=58
• Utility and Maintenance Costs: Infinity covers 100%** of maintenance and event-related expenses, contrary to claims of not paying rent or utilities. While utilities have remained within the city spending prior to Bombers take over (based on 2006 rates) according to a BTU source.
* Includes the additional fence upgrades in 2017 as part of the current lease agreement which was agreed upon both the City of Bryan & the Bombers
** The city of Bryan does service field lights through a 20 year warranty by Musco Lighting
Comparative Analysis
• Cost-Benefit: The City’s investment of $1.7 million has been matched by our significant financial and community contributions, resulting in a net positive impact, considering the field was desolate and generating no income to the City of Bryan while costing thousands of dollars of upkeep to the parks department.
• Alternative Proposals: Evaluations show that our teams provide unique community benefits and economic returns that alternative uses may not replicate, while ensure the facility is booked most days of the year for tournaments and high school games.
Negotiation and Legal Context
• Timeline and Communication: Our negotiations with the City have been ongoing and transparent until the city started negotiating in bad faith. Refusing to meet, changing the merits of our current lease with their proposed new terms and basically showing us the door. The lawyers provided an opportunity for us to take the time and work through what the future could look like and the city choose to retaliate and terminate for convenience.
• Legal Agreements: We have met all obligations under the existing agreements, and any new terms proposed should be negotiated fairly and within the terms of the current lease.
Finally and most importantly – Affordable Family Fun continues: A Family of 4 can attend a Bombers game, get 2 kids zone passes, 4 sodas, 4 bomber dogs and 4 chips for $87 plus tax.
E-mail sent by the managing partner of the Brazos Valley Bombers, Chris Clark, on July 18, 2024:
I wanted to provide an update mid-year (199 days since January 1, 2024) on how hard my team and I have been working to make sure the facility is at maximum use for the betterment of both local organizations as well as tourism over the last 199 Days.
Here are some facts and figures for utilization this year, thus far below with detailed event data under that for out of town teams etc.
Since January 1, 2024, despite not having access to Locker Rooms for teams to change in, Hitting Cages on site for teams to warmup in among other needed amenities, the Field has been used for 342 games, practices and tryouts. (this does not include all activity from Twelve Baseball, Scrappers Baseball, BV Renegades, BV Bucks etc)
143 Tournament Games with an emphasis on out of town teams
127 Games / Practices / Tryouts from local groups – Brazos Christian Varsity, Brazos Christian JV, Allen Academy Varsity, Allen Academy JV, IL Texas Varsity, Texas A&M Club Baseball, St Joseph Mustangs and Texas A&M Corp of Cadets
68 Games / Practices from Bombers Baseball and Toucans FC Soccer
Plus many events such as Special Olympics, Little League Opening Ceremonies for College Station Little League the annual Plygem Employee Appreciation Kickball Event, the Chamber of Commerce Celebrity Softball Game
_____ In Depth Look Below_____
*Feb 22-24 BSN Sports Invitational High School Tournament
Our Field hosted 12 games in 3 Days with 50% of teams from out of town
Team List – A&M Consolidated, Huntsville, Lufkin, Dallas Bishop Lynch, Rudder and Bryan High
*March 9-10 USSSA Sanctioned Tournament
Our Field hosted 11 games in 2 Days with 33% of teams from out of town
Team List – Brazos Valley Bucks- College Station, BVR 13 u maroon- College Station, BVR 13u white-College Station, Legends 13u- Lindale, Lookouts 13- Hallettsville and PB 13u- College Station
*March 23-24 USSSA Sanctioned Tournament
Our Field hosted 15 games in 2 Days with 56% of teams from out of town
Team List – BLBA Tindell- Hewitt, Brazos Valley Bucks- College Station, BVR 14u- College Station, Dallas Tigers Waco- Waco, Marucci Elite Texas- Cypress, OPA Jays- Cypress, Texas Bucks- Spring and X/Factor- Bryan
*April 27-28 USSSA Sanctioned Tournament
Our Field hosted 11 games in 2 Days with 33% of teams from out of town
Team List – Brazos Valley Bucks-College Station, Buzz Lightning- Hewitt, BVR 13u- College Station, G1 Baseball- Bryan, Pb 13u- College Station, Texas Rattlers- Brock
*May 4-5 USSSA Sanctioned Tournament
Our Field hosted 13 games in 2 Days with 71% of teams from out of town
Team List – AP express- Montgomery, Brazos Valley Bucks- College Station, Mustangs Elite- Midway, OPA Jays- Cypress, Texas Bucks- Spring, Waco Warriors- Waco and X/Factor- Bryan
*May 18-19 Triple Crown Aggieland Challenge Event with 93 Teams (7 Fields used, Edible Field (Bryan), Travis Park (Bryan), Wayne Smith Athletic Complex (College Station), Bachmann Park (College Station), Linda Andersen Park (Brenham), Henderson Park (Brenham) and Schulte Field (Brenham))
Our Field hosted 10 games in 2 Days with Majority of teams from out of town (see below)
Provided by TOURNAMENT AGENCY – Event Connect tracks teams outside of a 75 mile radius, and we had 69 of the 93 teams qualify with those parameters. It equates to 457 actualized room nights between College Station and Bryan. This is up from our first year event (2023) where we had a total of 73 teams and actualized room nights of 224. As well as 50 teams that were registered as travel teams outside of a 75 mile radius.
*May 25-26 USSSA Sanctioned Tournament
Our Field hosted 9 games in 2 Days with 60% of teams from out of town
Team List – BLBA Tindell- Hewitt, Brazos Valley Bucks- College Station, BVR 14u- College Station, China Springs Cougars- China Springs, Magnolia Strikers- Magnolia
*June 6-7 Five Tool Sanctioned Club Championship (2 Facilities Used – Franklin Ranch and Edible Field)
Our Field hosted 5 games in 2 Days with 87% of teams from out of town
Team List – Arlington A’s Braves, Austin Wings Baseball National, C2 Baseball Texas Scout 2025, Canes Southwest Premier, Dallas Tigers Hernandez, Dulins Dodgers Prime 17U, Ft. Worth Cats, Marucci Elite Texas – Ehrhardt, OSP Pirates – Stacy, Texas Twelve Gold 2025, THZ Baseball – MVP’s, USG Texas 17U, Arlington A’s Yankees, Brazos Valley Bucks, C2 Baseball Texas Scout – 2026, Canes Futures Black – 2026, Dallas Tigers Ahearne 2026, Dallas Tigers East 16U, Dulins Dodgers 16U Prime Godwin, Impact, Baseball Club-Lorberl, Marucci Elite Texas – Ognoskie, Marucci Elite Texas – Rodriguez, PBA Houston 16U Gold, PBA Houston 16U Navy, South Texas Sliders 16U McDaniels, Texas Twelve Black 2026, THZ Baseball – MVP’s, Arlington A’s Rangers, Athens Baseball 15u, Austin Wings 15 American, C2 Baseball Texas Scout – 2027, Canes Southwest Futures Black, Canes Southwest Prospects – Castro, Dulins Dodgers 15U Prime – Dulin, Ft. Worth Cats (Black), Marucci Elite Texas – McGonigle, PBA Houston 15u Gold, PBA Houston 15u Navy, Texas Twelve Gold 2027, THZ Baseball – MVP Blue, THZ Baseball – MVP’s, UBC 15U Florence and USG Texas 15U – Pellien
*June 8-9 USSSA Tournament
Our Field hosted 7 Games in 2 Days with 100% of teams from out of town
Team List – Alpha Baseball- Belton, China Springs Cougars- China Springs, Mustangs Elite- Midway and THA Stix- Longview
*June 21-23 Perfect Game Sanctioned Showcase Event (4 Fields Used – Blue Bell Park – TAMU, A&M Consol High School, College Station High School and Edible Field in Bryan)
Our Field hosted 10 games in 3 Days with Majority of teams from out of town
Team List – 24 Total teams (team list is coming, but total was confirmed by director)
*July 5-7 College Showcase (3 Fields Used – SPJST Ballpark in Fayetteville, Payton Field in Bellville and Edible Field in Bryan)
Our Field hosted 15 games in 3 Days with 96% of teams from out of town
Team List – Northside Baseball Club – Black, South Texas Angels, OPA Jays – Cullivan, Gladiators, OPA Jays – Jared, Batter’s Box, Central Texas Elite, OPA Jays – Cemy, Rampage, Bryan Vikings, Los Tigres, Texas Twins, Storm, Marucci Elite, STX Razosbacks – White, STX Mustangs, STX Razorbacks – Red, HQ55 Baseball, Northside, Baseball Club – Blue, Exposure Baseball, Northside Baseball Club – White and Baseball Extreme
*July 12-14 RBI Texas A&M / Binn Classic (4 Fields Used – Olsen Field, Blinn College, Firemans Park and Edible Field)
Our Field hosted 15 games in 3 Days with 70% of teams from out of town
Team List – BVR 16 Grey, Warriors 16, Los Tigres, BVR 17 White, BVR 16 White, Bakerbatz, BVR 16 Maroon, Waco Tigers, BVR 16 Green, Five Tool, Vandals, Warriors 18, Blue Chips 18, Keller Aces, Blue Chips 16, BVR 17 Maroon, Centex Storm, Wow, LBA, and BBA
*July 18-21 2024 RBI Sam Houston Classic (3 Fields Used – Sam Houston State University, Madisonville HS and Edible Field)
Our Field hosted 10 games in 3 Days with 70% of teams from out of town
Team List – Allen 16, Lynx 16, Lynx 15, Houston Heat, BVR 16, Allen 15, BVR 16 White, STX Showtime, BVR 17 White, Texas Reds 18, TX Blue Chips 18, Allen 17, SA Lobos 17, Lynx 17, BVR 16 Green, Lynx 15, BVR 16 Maroon, TX Havoc, Allen 15 and BVR 16 Grey
In addition we have a ton of activity on the books and people waiting to see if we can honor the discussions we have already begun prior to this hearing. In fact, just recently we committed to the Regional Director of Under Armour Flag Football as a homesite for all of their Fall Activities.
Please honor the agreement and allow us to continue to make these impacts.