Hernando has brought Sportsman Solutions into the mix to up its game in the funding department. The city's striking a deal with the Wisconsin consultancy to hawk naming rights and sponsorships at the Hernando Civic Center and Renasant Park. The aim? To rake in some dough for park improvements without tapping the already stretched municipal coffers. Sportsman Solutions isn't new to this rodeo—they partner with towns across the nation to spruce up youth and community sports facilities by securing sponsors.
The win-win plan kicked off after Hernando snagged the Civic Center last May for $790,000 from a handful of local clubs. Coming down the pipeline is a cool $13.7 million overhaul for Renasant Park, courtesy of both the city's funds and a helpful $1.7 million grant from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. Featuring a multi-use trail network, disc golf, and open-air pavilions, the park is pegged to be a draw for both locals and visitors—with a specific eye on fostering economic perks for the area. According to a statement obtained by the City of Hernando, they're not just building a park; they're crafting a landmark.
Ryan Patrick, the point man from Sportsman Solutions, has been in cahoots with Hernando's parks and development chiefs to cook up a plan to lure businesses into adding their names to this city landmark. "Really that’s our bread and butter,” Patrick said, explaining their raison d'être to be matching cities with companies eager for some quality brand exposure. While local enterprises get first dibs on the opportunities, from the dugout to outfield banners, they're casting a wider net, targeting over 160 potential sponsors. Patrick emphasized that these branding opportunities are rare, opening up just once every decade or two, thus presenting a special appeal to potential sponsors.
The strategy aims to serve the city's needs and cater to a variety of audiences, as Community Development Director Gia Matheny and Parks Director Jared Barkley have underscored. Acknowledging the challenge of maintenance and upgrades on the city's dime, they see the sponsorships as a lifeline. Barkley admitted that without this partnership, bankrolling improvements like the desired new ballfields would be out of reach—especially after a tax referendum fell flat. Meanwhile, they're eyeing to repurpose sponsorship funds to enhance the park's non-athletic allure, from trails to event spaces, according to Matheny. It's all part of the push to leverage these improvements, hoping to give Hernando's economy a leg up by drawing folks to stay, play, and spend in the community.
Sportsman Solutions isn't just shooting in the dark; they've got a track record of heavy-hitting deals, like the $16 million sponsorship package they landed for a mixed-use sports complex in Gretna, Nebraska. Patrick believes Hernando's Renasant Park project will strike a chord far and wide, bolstering the city's fiscal health and enhancing its profile within the region.
