Digging deeper into the Pistol Shrimp’s contract with the city of Peru

With the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp officially agreeing to call Peru home for the upcoming Prospect League season at minimum, the foundation is set for a future for both parties. But what exactly is included in the contract, and what changes will be coming to Veterans Memorial Park?

The specifics of the agreement and responsibilities of both the city and team are laid out and broken up as follows:

Length of contract

The agreement approved Monday night enables the Pistol Shrimp to play baseball games between May 15 and Aug. 31.

The contract said both parties agree to the understanding that the first season in Peru will provide the foundation for negotiating a long-term agreement, and the parties will negotiate in good faith at the end of the 2021 season.

Economic incentives

As consideration for the team entering the agreement and its promise to make Peru the long-term home for the Pistol Shrimp, the city will provide economic incentives to the team not to exceed $100,000.

This compensation will help cover the lost revenue from ticket sales because of the current inability to charge admission to Veterans Memorial Park.

The city will pay the team $79,800, representing $2,600 per home game, for the 2021 season.

The remaining $20,200 will be retained by Peru and will be put toward capital improvements to the premises and Veterans Park to accommodate the Pistol Shrimp long term.

Prospect League Commissioner Dennis Bastien has said the league’s teams on average bring in an economic development impact between $1.5 and $2 million to the local sites every year, the impact of which is shown through local businesses.

“This is done through visiting teams, restaurants, hotels, bus lines and fans,” Bastien said, “along with other cities visiting. A lot of times, their fans travel as well.”

The team already has agreed to work with the Locker Room in Spring Valley for its apparel and Green River Bus Lines for transportation.

Use and maintenance of Veterans Memorial Park

The agreement will give the Pistol Shrimp the exclusive use of Veterans Memorial Park on days when they are scheduled to play home games at no cost to the team.

The premises will remain available for use by the city and general public for city events on days without Pistol Shrimp games.

The exclusive use on those days extends to the men’s baseball field and dugouts, the city’s concession stand, the city’s broadcast booth and surrounding areas of the ballpark.

The Pistol Shrimp will be responsible for maintaining the field and other amenities at their own cost when home games are scheduled to be played.

This includes lawn care, watering and securing the concession stand and broadcast booth after each use. The team also will be responsible for maintaining cleanliness around the premises.

Peru will be responsible for mowing grass at Veterans Park outside of the fenced-in playing area and maintaining the public parking areas at the park.

The city will also be providing and emptying trash receptacles around the park and providing reasonable assistance to the team’s maintenance duties when necessary.

Food, utilities and sponsorship at the ballpark

According to the agreement, the Pistol Shrimp have the ability to enter into contracts with third-party vendors to provide food and beverage at the ballpark. The team will have the right to all proceeds from any such third-party agreements.

The city will be responsible for all monthly utility costs at the park, including water, sewer, electric and internet service.

With the exception of naming rights for the baseball field and Veterans Park, the Pistol Shrimp will have the exclusive right to proceeds from the sale of sponsorships and advertising during the game broadcast.

This could include outfield wall signs, banners, field signage and more. The city will have the authority to prohibit any advertising that is noncompliant with the city’s code of ordinances.

Capital improvements

According to the agreement, the city will make several improvements to Veterans Park to better suit the needs of the Pistol Shrimp.

The city will expand the dugout areas, install fiber-optic internet to the broadcast booth, provide public WiFi, expand public parking availability and make other improvements to the licensed premises agreed upon by the parties and approved by City Council.

Other notes

• The Pistol Shrimp will not be permitted to start an inning of baseball after 11:30 p.m. and shall conclude nonbaseball-related activities no later than midnight.

• The Pistol Shrimp will be responsible to bear, pay and discharge any taxes, assessments or levies that may be lawfully held against them.

• The team is solely responsible for any costs associated with advertising or promoting home baseball games, including the cost of game promotions.

• The first Pistol Shrimp home game will take place against the Lafayette Aviators at 7:05 p.m. May 28 at Veterans Memorial Park.