Hernando aldermen approve Renasant/Civic Center sponsorships

Without discussion as it was on the consent agenda, Hernando aldermen Tuesday night approved sponsorship contracts for naming rights to generate funding for improvements at Renasant Park and Hernando Civic Center ball fields.  

It was the first round of sponsorships agreed to with a partnership between the City and Sportsman Solutions LC, a Waukee, Iowa-based company that deals with negotiating naming rights partnerships for sports facilities. 

It’s the latest effort for the DeSoto County city to fund a plan to construct and renovate its recreational sites since a November 2022 ballot initiative to use an extra tax on prepared food to fund improvements was voted down. 

Following are the sponsorships agreed to Tuesday night:

Sky Lake Construction

• Receive naming rights to one (1) field at the current Civic Center Fields
• Will receive 9 outfield signs to all fields at the Civic Center Fields 
• Six (6) year agreement.  Payment of $12,500 will be made upfront

Hernando Self Storage

• Receive naming rights to the Dog Park at Renasant Park.
• Three (3) year agreement. $3,000 per year. 

Complete Home Center

• Receive two (2) outfield signs, one (1) dugout banner, and one-third (1/3) section of a scoreboard partnership to one scoreboard at the new Renasant Park Fields.
• Seven (7) year agreement. Payment of $19,500 will be made upfront. 

State Farm-Neal Cannon

• Three (3) outfield signs at the new Renasant Park Fields
• Three (3) year agreement.  $1,500 per year.

Southern Duplicating

• Two (2) outfield signs at the current Civic Center Fields
• Three (3) year agreement. $800 per year. 

Associated Wholesale Grocers

• Scoreboard partnership to the new Renasant Park Field covering 1/3 of below the board
• Three (3) year agreement.  $3,000 per year.

Ryan Patrick of Sportsman Solutions told DeSoto County News that a beverage agreement is currently being negotiated by Sportsman between Coke and Pepsi between all markets Sportsman covers, The two beverage partners have done over $1 million in sponsorships over the last 36 months with the firm, Patrick said.   

“In 30 days, Sportsman has reached out to over 300 local/regional businesses and expect to follow up with all of them in the next 30 days to update them on progress,” Patrick said. “There is a little over $4 million dollars out in proposals in review of businesses interested in being involved at Renasant Park. This is one of the largest projects in the City of Hernando’s history.”

Patrick stressed there remains quite a few opportunities available for businesses to promote their brand and get in front of a large audience, but these opportunities are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Tuesday’s agenda items also included discussion of the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 Tax Levy and Budget.