Fee hikes threaten local rec sports leagues in San Diego
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As adult team sports grow in popularity, some local leagues may be forced to shut down or raise prices as the city makes it more expensive for them to operate, organizers say.
Why it matters: Rec leagues help tens of thousands of local residents stay active and socially connected — especially for those who are new to town —and can boost business at restaurants and bars.
Driving the news: A 185% fee increase for using public fields and courts, as part of the city budget that went into effect July 1, means residents could start paying more to play in local leagues.
- The higher cost could also force leagues to shut down, cancel certain sports, find new venues or move out of neighborhoods within the next year, according to Ducote Contreras, an executive at Volo Sports, a national social sports company with leagues in San Diego.
- The price to play in a kickball league would need to rise from $60 to $140 to keep the same profit margins unless organizers find new fields, he told Axios.
The fee increase was one of many adjustments made within the parks and recreation department to help close the city's budget deficit, and they were weighed against cutting hours for rec centers and libraries.
- The changes are another example of the city's push to boost revenue from its public spaces, including charging for parking at Balboa Park and Mission Bay Park.
- City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who pushed for the fee hikes, acknowledged the benefits these leagues offer local residents and businesses but said the city needs to limit how much San Diegans are "subsidizing for-profit activities in public spaces," particularly for non-local companies.
Zoom in: The higher fees cover 90% of the total cost the city incurs to provide fields and courts. They are expected to generate about $760,000, but that estimate doesn't account for reduced activity by those leagues, according to one city analysis.
- While the city's costs include field maintenance, lighting and staff salaries, Volo and other groups question that workload and overall price tag, according to Contreras.
- "It hurts the residents because it's residents that play in our leagues," Contreras said. "We offer a service that parks and rec is not able to offer."
The big picture: Team sports have become one of the fastest-growing types of exercise, with 20% of U.S. adults — up from 11% in 2020 — now saying they play them, according to a CivicScience survey shared with Axios.
What we're hearing: Getting outside with friends (and without screens) has become especially important to younger adults, says Galen Beers, executive director of the San Diego-based Sport & Social Industry Association.
- "No one's going out of business because people aren't playing," Beers tells Axios. "In fact, it's the opposite."
State of play: Volleyball (30% of total players), soccer (18%) and softball (15%) were the most popular sports last year, per preliminary data from the trade group, which counts roughly 150 leagues as members.
- Volo has seen participation in San Diego almost double since before the pandemic, with competitive sports like volleyball and soccer driving the uptick, according to Contreras.
- San Diego Social Leagues had more than 30,000 participants last year and expects to grow in 2025.