The Palm Coast City Council on May 5 voted unanimously to table a proposed three-year contract with the Orange State League, a new collegiate wooden-bat baseball league set to bring its Palm Coast Big Buoys team to the Indian Trails Sports Complex this summer.
The council requested additional time for the city administration to clarify several contract terms and to confirm that the agreement does not conflict with the Palm Coast Little League’s use of the complex. The agreement is scheduled to be reviewed again at the council’s May 19 meeting.
Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri said she supports bringing the new league to Palm Coast but wanted to address concerns about field availability and contract specifics before approval.
“We don’t want to delay their ability to sell tickets or to attract people to their league and their season,” Pontieri said. “But we don’t want to create more problems in an arena where we already know we have problems.”
In a separate comment during the meeting, Pontieri said, “I feel like we’re writing a check we can’t really cash right now. We already have enough conflicts on our fields and at our parks. I want to avoid any more of that. I welcome this. I think it’s super cool. But we just need to make sure we’re not legally overcommitting ourselves.”
The Orange State League
The Orange State League was established in 2024 as a subset of the North Carolina-based Players League. According to the league’s website, the Orange State League is designed to develop college players and local teams “in scaling as major sports entertainment businesses.”
The league currently includes four teams: the Palm Coast Big Buoys, the New Smyrna Gnarlies, the St. Augustine Sardines, and the Cocoa Beach Tailgators. The Palm Coast Big Buoys’ mascot is a manatee holding a buoy.
Palm Coast Baseball was incorporated in February as a company based in Fleming Island and Oak Island, North Carolina, according to corporate records. The Big Buoys joined the league on March 19, when a league release announced the team would begin building its roster and community partnerships.
The four teams will play 74 games between June 1 and July 26. Twenty of those games are scheduled at Indian Trails Sports Complex over 20 nights, all on Baseball Field 2. According to the proposed contract, each game starts at 7 p.m. and is scheduled for three hours, with no double-headers.
The first Palm Coast game is scheduled for June 17 against the New Smyrna Gnarlies and is billed as “faith and family night.” Other promotional nights listed by the league include Military Appreciation, First Responders Night, Senior Night, Latin Night, and Teacher Night.
Ticket prices are $5.72 for children 12 and under and $11.63 for others, fees included.
Field Use and Scheduling
Parks and Recreation Director James Hirst said the league will begin its Palm Coast schedule at the end of June, after the Palm Coast Little League playoffs are completed, and will end before August. The agreement is non-exclusive, Hirst said, meaning the other fields at the complex will remain open for use while the Orange State League uses Field 2.
City Attorney Marcus Duffy said the agreement is subject to whatever events are already scheduled for the field.
The proposed contract gives the Orange State League non-exclusive rights to use the complex’s existing baseball fields, batting cages, and concession stands between June 1 and August 1. The contract specifies that the league’s use is subordinate to the city’s master scheduling and is “subject to displacement or modification by other leagues, tournaments, or organizations that have secured prior reservations through the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.”
The contract also states that the city has “the final and absolute authority to determine field occupancy” and reserves the right to preempt league uses for city-sponsored events, community programs, or repairs with at least 48 hours’ notice. The agreement includes an option for the city to renew for an additional three-year term.
The league would pay $20 per hour for use of the field and $25 per hour when the lights are on.
Hirst said the Orange State League had already made accommodations for the city by pushing the start of its Palm Coast schedule later in June to allow Palm Coast Little League to complete its playoffs.
“They are already kind of aware of the situation, but also have made accommodations,” Hirst said.
Hirst said it was Palm Coast Little League that asked the city to bring the new league to the complex.
When asked whether the city could accommodate the new league given existing field demands, Hirst said, “I believe we can.”
Concerns From the Council
Pontieri raised concerns about the contract’s language on several issues, including the league’s maintenance responsibilities and the scope of its exclusive concession rights.
According to Pontieri, the contract grants the league exclusivity for concessions during the term of the agreement, not only during game times. That could create conflicts because Palm Coast Little League could be using other fields during the same period.
The contract also includes a clause referring to “policing” of the field, which Hirst said is a misnomer. He said the term refers to cleanup, not law enforcement.
Council member Ty Miller said he wanted to ensure the new league would pay the same fees as other field users and asked whether Palm Coast Little League supported the agreement.
“I want to make sure that little league is comfortable with this agreement as well. You know, because they’re an asset to our community, they do great things,” Miller said. “This is a great thing, because it’s just more of that, something that people can watch and enjoy and get excited about. I just want to make sure that they’re good with this as well.”
Miller said he wanted to hear from Todd Milner, president of Palm Coast Little League.
In a statement provided to FlaglerLive, Milner did not directly address the league’s use of Field 2 but said, “Palm Coast Little League is incredibly grateful for the City’s generosity and the premier complex they provide for our youth. It is a true cornerstone of our community. We are working through some concerns we have with the City, but our long-standing relationship has us optimistic about our ability to resolve any issues. We value our 25-year history of stewardship and want to ensure the complex remains a safe environment for Palm Coast’s youth. I am eager to work with the City to find a path forward that protects our players and the integrity of the facilities we’ve built together.”
Next Steps
Mayor Mike Norris suggested tabling the proposal to allow the administration time to work out the details. The council agreed unanimously.
Hirst said tabling the agreement would not delay the Orange State League’s scheduling. Duffy and Hirst will work to clarify the division of maintenance costs and responsibilities, the extent of the league’s concession rights, and to ensure the agreement does not conflict with the existing Palm Coast Little League agreement.
The contract is scheduled for review at the council’s May 19 meeting.
This article will be updated following the May 19 meeting.
