Do Travel Softball Programs Make Money?

[hitrunscore63]

This topic seems to make it to the Fastpitch Discussion board every year around this time. I tell parents who think someone is making money to do the math. We provide parents with statements, along with some of the invoices we get for field rental. They can go online to see the average cost of friendlies and tournaments. What alot of parents don't see are the costs not seen. New softball for friendlies, replace equipment that's broken or anything else actually needed and used by the team. I agree with the other posts, if you have a city willing to let you use their park for a tournament while not charging alot, that's a great money draw. But for the most part 95% of TB teams are barely scraping by.

[DDG]

Some teams do make money. It's not too difficult to figure it out. We see several teams in the area carry 20 or more dues paying kids on the roster. They have no cost for practice facilities, only enter 5 or 6 showcases/tournaments a year, and charge $200 for month, 12 months a year. The kicker is you pay all of your kid's travel costs.

Most teams make nothing. They choose to do it that way. DD's team charges dues based on projected expenses for the coming season. If expenses are lower, the remainder is applied to each girl's travel account in accordance with their participation in paying dues. We have never been hit with an additional charge due to expenses being higher.

[compete4evr]

I don't believe the majority of teams make money. With all the money going out for friendlies, tournaments, uni's, equipment, paid instruction, etc. the expense to run a team is well over $20k(Sept-Aug) for the serious teams. The only teams that make more are the teams that run all the major showcases . Not sure what they do with all the extra money they bring in?

[davtfor]

The quickest way to make a million dollars in travel softball?

Start with two million.

[Tucson]

This woman made (stole) $110,000. http://triblocal.com/downers-grove/2011 ... ack-88000/

[artomatic]

The quickest way to make a million dollars in travel softball?

Start with two million.

That might be the best 1st post ever in the history of Heybucket.