Lampasas council authorizes 12-month naming-rights deal with Sportsman Solutions amid local business concerns

Lampasas City Council on Tuesday authorized the city manager to execute a 12-month contract with Sportsman Solutions to pursue naming-rights and sponsorship revenue for parks and recreation facilities.

Parks staff told the council the firm would perform facility valuations, outreach and contract work at no upfront cost to the city and that the city would retain final approval of any sponsorship. "If we sign this contract, we owe them no money upfront," the parks presenter said. "We can turn around and deny every single contract this year, and we're out no money." The staff presentation said negotiated terms would aim for a 20–25% share to the city on sponsorships and that contract lengths could range from single-event sponsorships to multi-year naming agreements.

Councilmembers pressed staff on whether the agreement would disadvantage local businesses and on how sponsorship space would be reserved for youth organizations. One councilmember asked whether the city could approach local dealerships directly rather than outsourcing the work; staff replied that the contractor brings a bank of national contacts and bundled services (legal review, valuation and sales outreach) that the city would otherwise have to procure separately. Staff also said the city could reserve portions of fence or outfield space for local groups: "We can say 50% — you got about 300 feet out there, we'll say 150 feet of the outfield is committed to spots for LCYLA," the parks presenter said.

Some councilmembers expressed skepticism about the percentage split and urged caution. "If we can bring in some other outside money, I'm good with it," a councilmember said, while another warned that the arrangement could "shut out the locals" if not managed carefully. Several members recommended a one-year trial to assess whether the contractor produced a measurable return on investment.

The motion to authorize the city manager to sign the Sportsman Solutions contract passed after discussion. Staff emphasized that any individual sponsorship agreement would still require written consent and approval by the city before taking effect.

Council comment and any follow-up direction were limited to reserving local sponsorship space, asking staff to ensure a clear termination option at 12 months and confirming legal review of individual sponsorship agreements.