Residents, staff and user groups urge council to keep Fort Myers Stadium under city management

Dozens of residents and stakeholders urged the City of Fort Myers City Council on Jan. 6 to keep the Fort Myers Stadium under city management, saying municipal operation preserves low-cost programming, community access and long-term stability.

Speakers at the meeting included coaches, longtime volunteers and business representatives who said the stadium supports youth and adult hockey, figure skating, rec programs and regional tournaments. Several said privatization could make programs more expensive and less accessible to lower-income families and could put current stadium employees at risk of job loss or reduced benefits.

The issue was discussed during Council item 4.1 after public comments. City Attorney Alley told council members that the city has issued a request for proposals (RFP) that includes the stadium and that the city manager is the negotiator. Alley advised the council not to take action inconsistent with the RFP during ongoing negotiations, saying, “the negotiator on behalf of the City of Fort Myers is the city manager” and council should wait for any agreement brought forward for approval.

Why it matters: The stadium hosts a range of city programs that residents described as affordable alternatives to private options, and users and unions said it produces regular local economic activity (tournaments, travel teams) and volunteer service by players and staff. Several speakers tied the stadium to broader youth development, public safety and downtown economic benefits.

What happened at the meeting - Public comment: At least 21 speakers addressed the stadium item; speakers included program directors, coaches, union representatives and longtime participants. Common themes were affordability, community-building, job impacts for city employees and the stadium’s role in regional tourism and events. - Staff and council discussion: Council members repeatedly thanked speakers and asked the city manager to consider those comments during the negotiation process. Council did not vote on any change; the city attorney explicitly warned against council action during the negotiation phase to avoid jeopardizing the procurement process.

Representative remarks - Frank Scarpaci, owner and general manager of the Florida Eels (identified as the longest-standing tenant at the stadium), said the venue is a community “family” and described the program’s volunteer and charitable work after Hurricane Ian. He asked the council to keep the stadium as a city-run facility. - Richard Jones, business manager for the Painters Union, said, “When you start giving away city assets and making them a for-profit facility, you take away the accessibility to the community,” and urged the council to keep management municipal to preserve access for lower-income residents. - City Attorney Alley warned that council action at this stage “could ultimately weaken your chance to accomplish any policy goals that you want to accomplish” because the manager is negotiating under the RFP process.

Points of tension and outstanding questions - Several speakers warned privatization could raise prices and reduce community access; union and employee representatives flagged benefit and shift concerns for stadium staff. Other council members noted the potential for a private operator to deliver investments or a second sheet of ice faster, but emphasized community access as a key value. - City staff, including the city manager (negotiator), were instructed to continue negotiations and consider the public comments. No formal motion or vote was taken on privatization or an alternative structure at the Jan. 6 meeting.

What the council directed or decided - Decision: No formal council action was taken on item 4.1. The city manager was identified as the negotiator for the RFP and was encouraged to continue negotiations while considering the public comments.

Ending Councilmembers said they wanted the manager to weigh the social value and community impacts of any deal. Several asked for a future workshop to examine secondary facility needs, such as adding a second sheet of ice, but no date or formal workshop was scheduled on Jan. 6.