FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE

OPEN DELEGATION

TUESDAY JANUARY 12

The attached will provide input to the Committee prior to our delegation . Please circulate to all Committee Members prior to January 12, hard copies will be made available

Paul Marley VP – Baycats

David Mills President – Barrie Baycats

In order to present our case for City of Barrie support, we have outlined background information on our organization to better inform members of this Committee.

BARRIE BAYCATS – WHO ARE WE?

• Awarded an Intercounty League franchise in 2000; semi-professional calibre of play (Teams include London, Kitchener, Guelph, Hamilton, Welland, Brantford, Toronto) • City provides park space and fencing at BCSC • Baycats build stadium, add seats, sodding of entire infield, add ticket booth & storage shed • Not-For-Profit structure, 22 members with Board of Directors, AGM’s, financial statements • Annual budget $250K; revenue sources are signage in park, ticket sales and fundraising • 25 man roster comprised of ex-pros, US baseball scholarships, BMBA graduates; 4 imports • Players are not paid to play; housing, mileage & meal costs covered by team • Completely volunteer driven

BARRIE BAYCATS – IN THE COMMUNITY

• Scholarship program for Simcoe County high school graduates • Financial donations to RVH, Gilda’s, Hospice, Cope Dogs, Barrie Legion • Donations to local charities for their fund-raising activities • Produce and co-sponsor Sports Celebrity Nights with proceeds to Rotary Club • Annual Military Night at Park, armed forces personnel & families, fully sponsored • Summer Cadets (200 @ Base Borden) attend a game every summer • Special Needs Night annually with Celebrities, Baycat players and Special Needs participants • Baycats encourage local singers of National Anthem, First Pitch prior to home games • Player attendance at local events such as City Family Days, Tim Horton’s Cookie Drive • Summer Camps complimentary to Big Brothers/Sisters & Season’s Centre • Baycats participate and contribute in Festival of Trees lighting • Baycats’ mascot appears throughout area supporting charities (RVH Auxiliary) • Member of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce

BARRIE BAYCATS – 20 YEARS of ON FIELD SUCCESSES

• 8 First Place League Pennant winners • 7 League Championships • Hosted 2 League All-Star games • Numerous Player records in the 100 year League history (Stolen Bases, No-Hitter, Triple Crown) • Numerous Team records (Best win-loss season in 100 years) • Team and Individual recognition at Barrie Sports Hall of Fame (5 occasions) • Team recognized at City Council several times • Our Executive has been recognized repeatedly for League excellence • 10 players have been drafted by • Former Major Leaguers played for Barrie (Blue Jays, San Franciso Giants, Boston Red Sox) • Major League scouts common sights at Barrie and League games

BARRE BAYCATS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF BARRIE

• City provides available space & fencing at BCSC; Baycats build stadium, seating and sodding • Cost of building and amenities borne by Baycats $320K, becomes City of Barrie asset • 5 year contracts with City put in place, solid working relationships with City staff • Facility becomes envy of League; park management and greens-keeping superb • Improvements completed over the years, concrete sidewalks for handicap; dugout safety, flooring • Importance of City relationship with Base Borden and Baycats promotion of Military nights • Baycats Member provides a jumbotron at park for fan viewing and entertainment $60K • Baycats support and will actively participate in City’s Sport Tourism Strategy • All Baycats home games in 2021 will be broadcast throughout , exposing viewers to City • City receives celebrity exposure at park, Dan Shulman (ESPN); Grant Fuhr (Oilers), Tony Fernandez (Blue Jays) MOST IMPORTANT & MOST PROUD to our ORGANIZATION 18 Baycat players, from other locales, now call Barrie & Simcoe County home (5 Teachers, , 4 Police, 1 Fireman, 1 City Employee, 3 Entrepreneurs, 3 Trades, 1 Postal Worker)

SUMMARY

• Baycats provide a great product, with great partners, with committed volunteers & fans • Baycats will implement League mandate for broadcast facilities at stadium ($15K) • Baycats have had remarkable success on the field with wide recognition for our City • Baycats are very active and generous in the community, engaging with most organizations • Baycats original goal remains: “Provide great family entertainment at affordable prices” • Baycats will always make the City of Barrie proud and will display a Professional image in all we do

ISSUES FACING BAYCATS

• Distance from City of Barrie remains an issue. • No busing, no walk-up fans, vehicle is only transportation mode. • Busing attempted, not successful • League has mandated live coverage of games, infrastructure required including space & staff

We do have needs that will require City of Barrie support and financial assistance

MEDIA ACCOMODATION (800 SQ FT)

• Original stadium media box has space for 3 participants, PA, Stats and Sound. (photos) • Every game we have a guest child PA announcing for an inning in the media box • New Jumbotron operator requires space • League broadcasts require play by play and colour person space • Local media require space (Barre Today, CTV, Rogers); with visiting media require space • Requirement for storage compartment for video and sound equipment • Washroom facility required on this level

SPECTATOR MEZZANINE (1500 SQ FT)

• Design a mezzanine for fans & Corporate gatherings • Meeting place for celebrities and guests for game viewing & interaction (eg. Military Nights) • Create for future Events including concerts, TV on site (Supports Barrie Tourism Strategy)

OPTION – 1

• Re-engage with City to provide park space within City limits; huge benefits to Baycats • October 2, 2017 formal Baycats presentation for stadium on Lakeshore made to Council • Council feels site undesirable but unanimous agreement that there should be a stadium in the City of Barrie • Sports Events/Facilities Advisory Committee created to explore sites; no longer exists • To Baycats knowledge, no replacement park being considered by City for potential Baycats park Cost Estimate $4-5M

OPTION 2

• Expand the current stadium to accommodate increased media support • Create a mezzanine for fan standing rooming viewing and group events (photo) Cost Estimate $400K

SUMMARY

• First choice is to have a state of the art stadium facility within the City of Barre with new requirements • If no stadium in Barrie, upgrades are needed at existing site • With no appreciable City capital investment in 20 years at stadium, opportunity to improve • Upgrades undertaken now will modernize site for next 5-10 years • Media box upgrade requirement for May 2021 to satisfy League mandate • Baycats would be a partner in expansions and provide experienced project management. • Expansion of media area & enhancements to spectator viewing platform

EXISTING MEDIA BOX HOUSING PA ANNOUNCER, STATISTICIAN AND SOUND PERSON

CHILD ANNOUNCERS AT EVERY GAME – IN MEDIA BOX WTH PA, STATS & SOUND PERSONNEL

BCSC STADIUM

MEZZANINE STRUCTURE