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Goldsboro staff proposes switching youth soccer from volunteer hours to flat fee at Bridal Multisport Complex; council weighs scheduling and lighting limits
Summary
Parks and Recreation staff told Goldsboro City Council Dec. 16 they plan to propose a new fee arrangement for youth soccer clubs at the Bridal Multisport Complex — trading the current volunteer‑hour credit for a modest per‑player charge — and will return with a draft agreement in January.
Goldsboro — Parks and Recreation staff told the City Council Dec. 16 they plan to return in January with a revised user agreement for youth soccer clubs that use the Bridal Multisport Complex, proposing to replace the existing volunteer‑hours‑in‑lieu arrangement with a modest per‑player fee.
Felicia Brown, director of parks and recreation, said the 2019 agreement with Wayne County United Youth Soccer allowed the club to exchange volunteer hours for a $1‑per‑player, per‑practice/per‑game fee. Brown said staffing and facility experience from tournaments has shown city crews can support events, and the department now seeks a simple flat fee instead of tracking volunteer hours.
Brown described the complex as having eight rectangular fields, three of which are lighted. She told council the facility hosts weekday recreation play and weekend travel tournaments; the latter drive regional economic activity. Staff cited recent college‑showcase tournaments that drew teams from multiple states and said that weekend tournaments generate hotel room nights and visitor spending.
Council members asked about scheduling priorities and whether the change would affect field access for recreational leagues. Brown reiterated that the parks and recreation programs take scheduling priority and that the department will continue to offer practice fields across the park system. She also said staff will present a draft agreement for council review early in January and that the parks and recreation commission will see the draft as well.
Why this matters: The complex is a regional tournament venue that the city built with travel‑and‑tourism support. Council must balance community recreational access, contracted club use, and the economic benefits of larger weekend tournaments. A flat fee would simplify administration but could change the informal partnership clubs currently have with the city.
Quotes "Instead of the in‑lieu payment, I'm looking to charge some type of fee going forward — not an exorbitant amount, but some type of fee," Parks Director Felicia Brown said.
"These tournaments are on the weekend. So we are fully making use of that Bridal Multisport Complex, and we are following up on what we put out to our public and our citizens of how we're going to use that facility," Interim City Manager Matt Livingston said.
Ending Staff will bring a draft contract to council in January for review and potential approval; staff recommended the city finalize negotiations with clubs after council feedback and noted that tournament revenue helps offset facility costs.
