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6/25/2008
SLYSA League and Complex Update
This is an update to address some of the questions about the complex/fall league.
First, I really want to thank those people who helped try to save the complex from the flooding. I know everything was done that could have been done to keep the water out. This time, it just wasn’t possible. When I get some time, I would like to do a better job of recognizing the help of all those involved, but there are a few I’d like to single out now: Our neighbors, Anheuser Busch Soccer Park, the National Guard and Army, and Mark Vessell and his SLYSA complex staff. I know Mark pretty much lived in his truck at the complex for the last 7 days.
As most of you know, the complex is currently under a lot of water. IF the water recedes in less than a week, then the grass will likely live. IF the water recedes in less than 2 week’s time, then the cool season grasses (Bluegrass and Fescue) (fields 6 through 18) will likely die and the warm season grasses (Bermuda) (fields 1 through 5) survive. IF the water is on the complex for more than 2 weeks, then we will probably lose all the grass. Given the current predictions, the water is expected to be on all the fields for more than 2 weeks so we will probably have to start over with the grass.
In financial terms, the wet spring and the flooding has cost the league a lot of money. I don’t have the specifics yet, but should have them over the next week or two. When we do have them, we will share them with you. What I can tell you is that the league is financially stable. All of this has had a significant impact to the league, but we will be able weather the storm (bad pun). If this had happened five years ago, that would probably not have been the case.
We have several options going forward. Among them are: 1) If the water recedes in the next few weeks, there is a possibility that we can plant Bermuda in all the fields and they could be ready to play by September. We would also plant cool season grasses in many of the same fields and over time would be able to have the grass type distribution we have today. 2) We could install enough artificial fields by September and be able to handle all league play using those fields and the other fields available in the area. 3) We could use other complexes in the area for fall league play and reseed/sod/sprig the SLYSA complex fields, install two artificial fields and have them available for league play in the spring and not in the fall at all. We have already had calls from a few complexes in the metropolitan area who are offering their fields to us so that we could pursue this option. There are several other options like these. Incidentally, if we had had just two artificial fields most of the games this past spring could have been played.
The bottom line is that we will be prepared to play in the fall and will be able to accommodate all teams which want to play in the league. We have several options to accomplish this. We will be preparing a list of viable options complete with the pros and cons and will be presenting them at a meeting next week to determine what direction you want to take.
The cost of repairing the SLYSA complex will be expensive, but worth the cost. I would expect any option we choose to cost in excess of $500K. We have done this before and we can do it again. It would cost a lot more to do it somewhere else. We have already invested over $2.5M into the complex. Most of this investment is in land, equipment and capital improvements such as lights, goal posts, asphalt roads, and irrigation system. So a significant share of the investment has already been made.
There are some who have suggested that we not rebuild in the flood plain. While this is a great idea, (and I’d like nothing more) it really is not financially viable. The value of the land at the SLYSA complex is roughly $27K per acre. I think the land at Sportport is roughly $60K per acre, but it is also in a flood plain. Property in the general area outside the flood plain is probably $200K per acre or more. The SLYSA complex occupies about 104 acres. Using back of the envelope calculations, at $200K per acre the additional cost of the facility outside the flood plain would be about $18M (104*(200K-27K). If this amount were financed the additional annual cost per team would be about $3,000. If we stay in the flood plain and get flooded every 15 years (1993 then 2008) instead of the once every hundred years it is supposed to be, and the cost to replace is $500k, then the comparable additional annual cost per team would be about $85. I think teams can afford $85/year, but an additional $3K/year is out of the question. That’s one of the reasons most of the complexes are in flood plains including Sportport, Gallagher, Chesterfield, Mueller, Fenton and Soccer Park.
I have been accused by a few of forcing teams to play in SLYSA and that I refuse to work with SCCYSA. It has never been my intent to force teams to play in SLYSA, nor do I think I could. What I have asked for is a commitment from the clubs/teams which play in the league to support the complex. I figure that if I am being asked to commit my time and money to the league, then the clubs/teams should do the same. The issue is that there must be some predictability in the revenue stream in order to be able to plan and improve. Without that commitment a complex like the SLYSA complex is not possible. For example, you can’t get financing without a somewhat predictable revenue stream. My primary purpose, has been, and continues to be to create quality fields for kids to play on. The fields don’t have to be perfect, but they should be good enough that they don’t affect the outcome of the game and they don’t contribute to injury. I think all teams should be able to play on quality fields and that the metropolitan area has the wherewithal to make it happen if they have the will to do so.
I have no axe to grind with SCCYSA. I wish them success and I believe they are quite successful. I don’t know, but I think they have more players in their recreation program than are in the SLYSA competitive program. I initiated four meetings with SCCYSA boards over the last five years for the purpose of discussing how to work together. They have a strong recreational program and are very good at it. SLYSA has a strong competitive program and is very good at that. Pooling our resources to make both programs stronger seems like a good thing to do. At the last meeting in January of 2006, I suggested that we transfer all SLYSA property to SCCYSA, I would step down as president of SLYSA, and the SLYSA program would become the competitive branch of the SCCYSA league with the restriction that the competitive clubs/teams would have control over the SLYSA complex and where their money was spent. During the discussion, it became clear that this was not acceptable to SCCYSA and that quality of field was not a priority for SCCYSA. Since quality of field was one of our highest priorities, it became obvious that there would be no agreement and both organizations moved on.
The future of the league is up to you. Always has been. The league and what we do with it belongs to you. The complex is owned by the teams which play in the league. There are those that believe the larger clubs run the league. While it may be convenient for some to think so, it is not true. Several years ago we established the SLYSA Directors Committee which is composed of all club presidents and directors with 5 or more teams in the league. This committee is the group which makes most policy decisions, such as pricing, bracketing, etc. The larger clubs do and should have a strong voice since they represent a lot of teams. But it is a mistake to assume they have control. The largest club has just 12% of the vote and the largest three combined have roughly 30% of the vote in the committee. The largest club in the league is---Metro Strikers.
So where do we go from here? That will be the topic of discussion next Wednesday, July 2 beginning at 6:30pm at the Soccer Park. We will present a few viable options with projected costs, pros and cons. If you have other ideas or questions, here is an opportunity to have them heard. If you are interested in participating, please attend. Everyone is welcome.
Some have asked about fall league applications and spring credits/refunds. We will be making fall league applications available online later this week and we are still working on the credit/refund issue. I apologize for not having it done earlier, but have had a few more pressing things to do.
This spring has been very stressful and frustrating for many, many people including me. Since I receive no financial benefit from being president of the league, I occasionally question why I and many others commit so much time and money to the league. I was reminded why, when yesterday a couple of players had just been down to see the flooding at the complex. They asked me if it was OK if they started a fund raiser to help SLYSA rebuild the complex. They care enough about the fields to take the time to raise funds to try to get them back.
Lastly, I try to keep this in perspective. We lost the grass at the complex, but it will grow back. Many others have lost their homes and possessions in this flood. No comparison.
Thanks.
Roger
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