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Council gives SFC 30 days to set performance benchmarks for Cyclone Ballpark
Summary
After months of concern over management and revenue at the Pecos Cyclone Ballpark, the council approved a 30‑day amendment to the SFC operating agreement so staff can negotiate benchmarks and return with a plan; staff warned a six‑month transition could cost about $195,000.
The Pecos City Council authorized staff to amend the existing contract with Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) for 30 days so the city and SFC can agree on clear performance benchmarks and a path forward for the Pecos Cyclone Ballpark Complex. Interim City Manager Nicole Ferini told the council the one‑month amendment would allow staff and SFC to craft “benchmarks and deal breakers for the council” without the higher monthly cost a longer transition would incur.
Jim Arnold, a partner with SFC, urged the council to give the firm a chance to implement leadership and marketing changes and to leverage regional relationships that could bring tournaments back to Pecos. “We believe there’s an opportunity in front of us,” Arnold said, adding that the region’s market is changing and that tournament organizers now book many months ahead. Arnold described deposit policies and coordinated regional marketing as key levers to reduce last‑minute cancellations.
Council members and residents repeatedly pressed staff and SFC about money the city has paid to operate the complex and about contracts that exempted some organizers from rental fees. Ferini said the consulting/operations line item of about $211,000 on recent expenditure reports covers facility operating expenses; she also said that a six‑month transition under SFC’s month‑to‑month proposal would cost roughly $195,000 because the month‑to‑month rate would rise to $32,500. Staff recommended the 30‑day amendment rather than immediately committing to six months at the higher rate.
A councilmember moved and the council voted to allow 30 days for staff to negotiate the amendment with SFC and return with a draft contract that includes benchmarks and a playbook for measuring progress. The motion passed; the council did not record individual vote tallies in the public record. Staff said the facility would remain open while changes are implemented and that some SFC staff changes had already been made.
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