(Credit: Perfect Game)
One of the most notable baseball scouting organizations in the nation, Perfect Game, is moving its national headquarters to Hutto, bringing with it the City’s first indoor sports and events center designed to seat 13,000, a convention hotel, and generating a combined demand for more than 150,000 hotel room nights annually. The project, a partnership between Perfect Game, developer Wolverine Interests, LLC, Sports Facility Advisory and Sports Facilities Management (SFA|SFM) and the City of Hutto will bring $800 million in private investment, the single largest economic development deal in the history of Hutto.
“The addition of Perfect Game to the City of Hutto is a shining example of how the company we keep keeps getting better,” Hutto City Manager and CEO Odis Jones said. “Perfect Game is a game changer in terms of diversifying our tax base, in particular, our tourism, hotel and convention business. It will benefit Hutto and the Central Texas region by infusing $200 million annually in direct spending to our local community, creating demand for more than 150,000 hotel room nights, and bringing Hutto a 13,000-seat indoor sports arena.”
“This project will allow our community to get everything they wanted and more regarding our parks and recreation projects,” City of Hutto Mayor Doug Gaul said. “We are getting a substantial investment into our community and will be able to leverage our bond dollars to go above and beyond for our residents.”
“Perfect Game is excited to name Hutto as our National Headquarters,” Perfect Game Founder Jerry Ford said. “We look forward to helping Hutto achieve its economic and community goals. This complex will draw players, coaches, scouts, and families from coast to coast and other countries. We are especially impressed by the people here and we look forward to a long successful relationship while we work closely with the community.”
Perfect Game is the largest baseball showcase organization in the country. They have seen 11,623 players drafted by Major League Baseball, and 1,234 major league players had their start through Perfect Game tournaments.
“Perfect Game’s decision to locate in Hutto, just 25 minutes from Austin, is one of the most significant events in the sports tourism industry in the last 20 years. Combining an SFM events center and hotel was a natural fit and will turn Hutto into one of the top scouting destinations in America. The community programs offered by SFM and Perfect Game will improve access to sports for local citizens. It is a true win, win, win,” said Dev Pathik, Founder and CEO of Sports Facilities Advisory.
“The indoor sports arena and convention hotel will be an attraction for family entertainment, concerts, conventions and indoor sporting events,” Jones said. “As part of the SFM Network, this venue will join the largest collection of sports tourism destinations in America and will be a great draw for tens of thousands of overnight stays annually and create a great Central Texas attraction. The center will also benefit our community by hopefully being home to future Hutto ISD graduation ceremonies and having an access program that will provide time for schools and other local sports teams.”
The complex will have state of the art technology and feature office, commercial, residential, medical and physical therapy services, and sports and clothing apparel, marking Hutto’s first entry into the apparel marketplace, as well as the Perfect Game Hall of Fame. The site will feature 24 turf baseball fields, 10 of which the City will develop for public use, along with multi-purpose fields and other recreational opportunities.
Jim Leslie, managing partner of Wolverine Interests, who also developed Frisco Square in Frisco, Texas, said, “We have worked with many of these types of projects and are impressed by the leadership displayed by the City of Hutto, Perfect Game and all of their advisors to make this happen. The combination of living, sports and entertainment will make a vibrant, new urbanistic community and sense of place.”
Since its founding in 1995, Perfect Game has grown to become the premier host of amateur baseball events, operating tournaments and showcases across the United States, Canada,
Europe and Puerto Rico. The organization’s mission is to promote the game of baseball by hosting the highest quality amateur events while providing meaningful opportunities and information to players, families, Major League Baseball organizations, college coaches, and fans.
“This move is just another step to create more opportunities for young players and increase our coverage of the amateur game at every level,” said Ben Ford, Perfect Game owner. “We want to increase participation and diversity and coming to Hutto will help us continue to grow America’s greatest game.“
Perfect Game has entered a 30-year lease with the City of Hutto. The property tax totals are expected to be $5.1 million, and sales tax totals are estimated to be $1.5 million. The City is reinvesting 60 percent of ad valorem taxes back into the project for 30 years through a tax increment reinvestment zone which will pay for public infrastructure to include fields, roads, utilities and garages.The City will also generate additional revenue from gate entry fees as well as receive revenue from the use of hotel room occupancy, local sponsorships and a hotel rebate program.
Perfect Game plans to host a grand opening tournament no later than Memorial Day 2021. It is anticipated that all fields will be finished by that time, Wolverine Interests expects that the first residential project will also be completed by Memorial Day 2021.
