• Guest column: Changes at restaurant, stadium are positive for the city,
Mayor Doug Nicholls and City Administrator Greg Wilkinson invite you to send questions or topics to sunquestions@yumaaz.gov and they will personally answer or exchange thoughts, with the goal of making our great city even better. We truly believe in “United for Yuma” and making this a better community with all of us working together for a common goal.
Over the last several months we have received a few questions concerning different areas and wanted to share that information with you. We received questions about the privatization of the Desert Hills Restaurant “The Patio” and how it was doing. The privatization of the restaurant has been very successful since Chef Alex Trujillo (Catering by Design) came under contract. Previously, the facility operated at a loss for many years. Since it is privatized, the restaurant has had a significant positive cash flow of $50,434, after expenses for the city.
We also received some questions about the James P. Deyo Athletic Complex and its performance since its conversion to accommodate soccer, football and other events. The heyday of the complex was at its peak up until the San Diego Padres played their last spring training game there March 31, 1993. Since that time, there have been several other independent league teams who called the complex home, only to leave after one or two seasons. The last team was the Scorpions from the Golden Baseball League (GBL) in 2011.
In 2011, the GBL utilized the whole complex. The complex had the GBL activities and other local events with a total usage of 93 days and generating $103,172.57 for the city that year. Since the GBL folded, there has been a significant decline in use and revenue each year. In 2012 — 52 days and $43,000; In 2013 — 44 days and $38,000; and then in 2014 — 27 days and only $35,000 in revenue.
After the conversion to an all-grass field in March 2015, the complex has reversed the trend. The first 10 months of 2015 saw usage climbing to a total of 60 days with $78,800 in revenue. In 2016, 90 days were reserved with over $145,000 in revenue. That trend continues in 2017. As of April of this year, the complex already has revenues of $111,900. It is really great to see this facility once again being used by the community.
We received some additional questions on the play of soccer at the facility. Revenues collected for soccer events in a two year period from 2015 to 2016 amount to $46,600, with One Goal, LLC paying about $28,000.
We received some questions about a statement that Councilman Wright made at the May 3 council meeting. He stated that the “city paid for the conversion of the main field at the Deyo complex.” His statement was not correct, as One Goal/Frontera United soccer team paid the entire cost of $15,000 for that conversion. We also saved another $18,000, as we were able to remove the stabilizer from the Deyo complex infield and use it at other city fields.
The future of soccer at the complex still looks good. In 2016, the Frontera Youth Soccer Academy was formed in conjunction with Frontera United soccer team. The Frontera Youth Academy is continuing to work with our youth, despite its parent team not returning to Yuma. The Academy has already started its season this year. The program plans on expanding, utilizing the stadium and surrounding fields at the complex. The organization also plans on forming an “under 23 year old” team that will travel and play games in the stadium.
Parks and Recreation is again working with a sports promoter that brought the professional soccer game to Yuma last summer. Tentative plans are in the works for 2 games this fall/winter season. At citizens’ requests, Park and Recreation is looking to form an adult soccer league starting this fall or winter as we have had as many as 30 adult teams playing in the Yuma area.
City Parks and Recreation does a great job in our community and is part of our Yuma “Quality of Life.” Repurposing this facility to allow for more use is better for the community and has turned out very well. The Deyo complex is a great facility and with the conversion, it continues to be so.