Board OKs stadium lease with new Elks owners

Long-time Bend Elks owner Jim Richards recently sold the team to a group called Let’s Play Ball LLC, out of Portland. And Tuesday night, the Bend Parks and Rec Board approved a new Vince Genna Stadium lease with the new team owners.

The lease is a five-year agreement, at a symbolic $1 a year, as was done with Richards. In exchange, the new owners, led by John and Tami Marick, take care of all team and stadium-related expenses, such as maintenance of the southeast Bend ball park, as Richards has.

Park district Executive Director Don Horton said even though there’s change, the new group is here to keep baseball in Bend.

“I think they’re excited,” Horton said. “You know, clearly they’re baseball fans, and they see that the Bend Elks have been a success in the past, so I suspect they’re going to continue to operate in a very similar way they have done it in the past.”

Even though it’s a five-year lease, it is scheduled for renewal on the day following termination.

It shouldn’t take too long for the new owners to adjust to life on the High Desert, as they have a home in Sunriver.