Baseball Heaven Hub & Mini Indoor Network
A countywide hub-and-spoke model: Baseball Heaven as the central tournament and administrative hub, connected to mini indoor training facilities on school campuses across Pottawatomie County. Unified governance, transparent finances, and measurable economic impact.
Central Hub
Surface lease with Pottawatomie County; dome + 8 turf fields; officials & logistics HQ.
Mini Indoors
Right-sized indoor training; weekday PE; weekend programming via Authority.
Transparency
Unified scheduling, no cash handling, payroll & audits.
Local Impact
Tourism, workforce pathways, and shared revenues.
How It Works
- Hub: Baseball Heaven hosts tournaments, admin operations, and shared resources (officials, registration, maintenance, logistics).
- Spokes: School-based mini indoor facilities provide daily training/PE and equitable weekend access under the county authority.
- Governance: A single Pottawatomie County Youth Sports Authority (PCYSA) standardizes safety, finances, and scheduling.
The Hub: Baseball Heaven
Baseball Heaven (≈135.89 acres) is the operational nucleus: regional events, indoor dome, 8-field turf complex, and centralized services. Proposed under a surface-lease partnership with Pottawatomie County.
- Unified registration & scheduling; integrated officials payroll (no cash)
- Event logistics depot: equipment, safety training, officiating HQ
- Economic engine with potential TIF/hotel-motel tax tie-ins
Mini Indoor Facilities (School Campuses)
Distributed, right-sized fieldhouses/domes (2–4 lane) at county school sites. Weekdays serve PE/teams; weekends programmed by PCYSA with equitable access and safety standards.
| Prospective Site | Initial Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shawnee HS / MS | Baseball/Softball, Multi-sport PE | Central node; pilot for scheduling app |
| Tecumseh | Softball, Youth Football | Authority template alignment |
| Bethel | Baseball, Soccer training | Shared travel reduction |
| Dale | Baseball, Multi-use | High participation per capita |
| McLoud | Softball, PE | Weekend tournament feeder |
| Earlsboro | Baseball, PE | Rural access equity |
| Maud | Multi-sport | Regional rotation model |
Governance & Transparency
Create the Pottawatomie County Youth Sports Authority (PCYSA) with sport-specific advisory boards (Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Youth Football, Pickleball, Rodeo) reporting to a single public authority under the County Commissioners.
- Annual public report; audited financials; open dashboards
- Centralized officials payroll (1099/withholding compliant)
- Standardized safety, insurance, and background checks
Funding Stack & Partners
- Grants & Philanthropy: Love’s Family Foundation; Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.
- Public Tools: TIF alignment, hotel-motel tax sharing, surface lease revenues.
- Operating: Event rentals, league fees, vendor village, sponsorships.
Economic & Community Impact
Tourism and local spending centered at the hub, with reduced family logistics via neighborhood training sites. The network builds a pipeline of certified officials, event staff, and turf managers.
- Lodging & dining uplift near Baseball Heaven
- After-school programs & equitable rural access
- Measurable KPIs via public dashboards
FAQ
Why use a single county authority?
It standardizes safety, finances, and scheduling while reducing duplication. Public reporting and audits ensure trust.
How are schools protected?
Weekday control remains with schools. Weekend programming uses MOUs, insurance, and a shared maintenance plan with defined responsibilities.
How is this funded without raising taxes?
Blend grants/philanthropy with existing public tools (TIF/hotel tax) and operating revenues. The hub’s tourism helps offset costs.
What about officials pay and compliance?
Fully digital payroll with proper tax treatment, eliminating cash handling and ensuring accurate year-end reporting.
Next Steps
- Commissioners adopt resolution establishing PCYSA.
- Execute MOU with Pottawatomie County for Baseball Heaven hub.
- Select pilot school sites and finalize facility specs.
- Confirm funding stack and publish procurement timeline.
- Launch public dashboards and annual report cadence.