Over 11,000 people participated in the City of Austin's adult year-round sports leagues in 2024, with growth among seniors and transplants expected in 2025 and 2026. On Friday, players and team leaders in the program were notified the city is canceling its indoor leagues, including basketball and volleyball, to save $400,000.
"The approved reduction removes two recreational programming positions and **** ociated funding related to adult indoor sports operations, totaling an estimated savings of $400,000," reads a statement from the city's department. "It is one of the reductions made within Austin Parks and Recreation, and similar savings measures were approved across other General Fund departments."
According to a City of Austin Parks and Recreation presentation, the department had 1,113 team sign-ups in 2024 across all adult sports, including outdoor leagues like softball and flag football. With registration costs at $350 per team, the department generated approximately $389,550 in revenue. The city's basketball leagues have all been canceled, with refunds to teams to follow.
The department states that the changes are part of the city's ongoing budget constraints and that it is actively evaluating how adult sports opportunities can continue within department‑operated **** es. Notably, this would likely involve removing the city as operators of Austin's adult indoor sports leagues and relying on community or private organizations to preserve play.
"If these leagues go away, there's not another place that we can move and replicate what we've had for generations," said Austin resident and adult sports league participant Pete Signor to KVUE. "Most other leagues are significantly more expensive, like triple the cost, and many of them are not as skilled or more social in nature."
#department #austin
"The approved reduction removes two recreational programming positions and **** ociated funding related to adult indoor sports operations, totaling an estimated savings of $400,000," reads a statement from the city's department. "It is one of the reductions made within Austin Parks and Recreation, and similar savings measures were approved across other General Fund departments."
According to a City of Austin Parks and Recreation presentation, the department had 1,113 team sign-ups in 2024 across all adult sports, including outdoor leagues like softball and flag football. With registration costs at $350 per team, the department generated approximately $389,550 in revenue. The city's basketball leagues have all been canceled, with refunds to teams to follow.
The department states that the changes are part of the city's ongoing budget constraints and that it is actively evaluating how adult sports opportunities can continue within department‑operated **** es. Notably, this would likely involve removing the city as operators of Austin's adult indoor sports leagues and relying on community or private organizations to preserve play.
"If these leagues go away, there's not another place that we can move and replicate what we've had for generations," said Austin resident and adult sports league participant Pete Signor to KVUE. "Most other leagues are significantly more expensive, like triple the cost, and many of them are not as skilled or more social in nature."
#department #austin
2 months ago
