Pecos’ Cyclone advisory board pitches monthly youth-sports tournaments to boost tourism
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Summary
An advisory board for the Cyclone sports complex urged the Pecos City Council to shift investment from one-off concerts to recurring youth-sports tournaments, saying recruited directors and early commitments could bring thousands of visitors per event and lift hotel and restaurant revenue.
A newly formed advisory board for the Cyclone sports complex told the Pecos City Council on Nov. 13 that the town can expand sports tourism by hosting frequent youth-sports tournaments rather than paying for large concerts.
David Joe Gonzalez, identified as site manager for Hashmith Inc. and a Cyclone board member, said organizers have recruited veteran tournament directors and already scheduled dates. “Tommy wants to be in Pecos,” Gonzalez said, describing a plan that included multiple tournaments and at least one already set for Feb. 28 with 13 teams signed. He said the board expects many events to draw teams from El Paso, Lubbock, Hobbs, Midland and other areas.
The presentation argued the community’s fields are an asset and that tournament directors — not field aesthetics — drive attendance. Gonzalez said previous problems stemmed from management contracts with third-party operators and that bringing experienced directors back could restore large event attendance. “It’s about the tournament director,” he said.
Council members and board representatives discussed contract terms and performance-based pay to reduce the city’s overhead. Speakers emphasized incremental, month-by-month tournament scheduling to test demand and minimize risk while connecting hotel owners and other stakeholders to expected returns.
Council and staff also asked operational questions about field capacity and logistics. Gonzalez said Pecos has about 11 available fields across the Cyclone complex and other city fields, and that tournament directors would be paid on a sliding scale tied to team counts.
The council did not take a binding vote on funding or contracts during the meeting. Staff said any formal contract or financial commitment would return to council for approval once board members finalize terms and present a written agreement.
