COVID-19

COVID - 19 - PRO SPORTS LEAGUES, EVENTS AND RENTALS

National Dodgeball Festival, Youth N.B.A., and Pro Sports Leagues (Nerf Battle, Winter Dodgeball, Indoor Ultimate, Rentals)

  • NATIONAL DODGEBALL FESTIVAL POSTPONED - NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED MAY 6
  • PRO SPORTS WINTER LEAGUES (ULTIMATE, DODGEBALL, NERF) ALL SUSPENDED UNTIL MAY 6
  • RENTALS - BUBBLES, ARCHERY TAG, GAME SHOW, NERF BATTLES - ALL RENTALS CANCELLED APRIL, MAY, JUNE UNLESS THINGS CHANGE
  • NIPISSING BASKETBALL YOUTH LEAGUE - PLAY SUSPENDED UNTIL MAY 6


EFFECT ON PRO SPORTS


Pro Sports has been hit especially hard by the economic down turn caused by the world events. Like many small businesses we rely on steady flow of monies to organize and run our leagues and events. Many of our activities require a huge investment of money to get them going or to purchase the supplies needed for an approaching season. Pro Sports has two massive events in the spring that make up a large percentage of our company sales. This combined with our rental business which does 90% of its bookings from March to August represent 85% of our year sales. 


On March 13 we had to postpone all of our activities. By March 15 we had lost all rental bookings through to September. With these cancellations and delays we have lost much of that 85% of yearly sales with no real end in sight. When we stopped our leagues on March 13 we also stopped accepting registration payments for the National Dodgeball Festival and the NBA youth basketball league. By losing our rental business and stopping registration payments we lost 100% of our business income in two days. A business that we have worked hard at for almost 7 years lost in the space of two days. It’s been a tough time.  However, we also feel for everyone who have lost their jobs, lost savings or lost their businesses and even more so for our fellow Canadians and human beings around the world who have been touched medically or lost their lives. There is a great deal of hurt caused by this virus and we all are doing our best to survive and reduce as much stress as possible. Last year we employed 102 people part time at various times during the year. Currently we have zero business and therefore no hours to offer our good friends who work for us. This is not a poor us letter, but I do want to give you an honest assessment of our situation and what we are doing in the face of this crisis. Currently we are looking at our business plan and how we will not only survive this pandemic; but how we will return even better than before when it is all over. This will not be an easy few months for any of us, but I promise we will do our very best to keep our company moving forward and making sure we can return when the pandemic is finally over. This too will pass and the hurt created with be met with the resolve to rise again and make our city, country and company even better.


REFUNDS AND CREDITS


Our company cannot provide refunds for our activities at this time but we will be issuing credits to everyone for future events. I wish we were able to simply send back all fees collected for the National Dodgeball Festival, the NBA, and our dodgeball, nerf and ultimate leagues. Unfortunately we simply cannot as investments in these activities have been made and we simply do not have the funds to cover all the losses at this time. The NBA has only 35% of its registration complete yet we have purchased almost 14, 000 worth of consumables which we have already paid for in anticipation for the season and seasons to come. The National Dodgeball Festival has collected deposits for all 167 teams accepted into the event and about 20 teams have paid full fees but we have invested thousands more than that amount of registration in equipment already purchased such as balls, awards, swag, tape, tarps, supplies, office time as well as staffing preparing for this huge event. The current losses from these two events alone has put us in a deficit situation and has resulted in our inability to refund fees at this time. I hope you can understand that we expected to bring in over 80% of our yearly sales March through April. This has been wiped out in two days without warning. I am truly sorry to tell everyone our events are postponed and that we cannot offer refunds. It is not a decision I made for any other reason than it is simply not possible. We have no source of income for our company until we are allowed to operate. I know many of you could use these funds and I feel terrible for each one in this situation. Believe me when I say the financial hardship being felt by you is also being felt both in my company and in my household. I did not start Pro Sports to hurt or take from anyone. I began the company to continue a love of sports and a desire to offer it in a competitive but fun environment. Telling you all I cannot refund your fees during this tough time is a crushing burden and one I vow to correct when this pandemic is all over. I am sorry but the solutions we are introducing are our only options. 


AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR LEAGUES

  1. Each person who has entered our activities will be issued one of the following.
  2. Credit for total amount paid - (National Dodgeball Festival, NBA)
  3. Credit for partial amount paid based on weeks already played - (dodgeball League, ultimate league, nerf league)


Please note the our leagues will be pro rated based on the weeks already played and credits will then be issued based on these amounts.


WHO ARE ISSUED THE CREDITS

  1. In the case of individual payments the credits will be issued to the payee.
  2. In the case of a youth entry the credit will be issued to the adult who made the payment
  3. In the case of team payments the credit will be issued to the team captain. 


PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT OFFER INDIVIDUAL CREDITS FOR MEMBERS OF TEAMS. THE CREDIT WILL BE HELD IN THE CAPTAINS NAME AS THIS IS THE PERSON WHO HAS PAID THE FEES.


HOW DOES THE CREDIT SYSTEM WORK AND WHAT IS THE STATUS OF EACH ACTIVITY
 

  • Rentals - March, April, May - all cancelled - Deposits paid result in a credit which can be used for a future rental at any time within two years
  • Nerf Battle League - Postponed until May 6. A decision will be made at that time. We are not providing credits at this time but will if the event is cancelled after May 6. The amount of the credit will be sent to Nerf Players once the season is cancelled.
  • Indoor Ultimate Winter Season - Postponed until May 6. A decision will be made at that time. If our season is cancelled on May 6 all teams which have paid their fees (4 have not) will be issued credits for the next season. Teams will be able to use this credit for the fall 2020 or winter season 2021. (Credit will be pro rated based on weeks already played)
  • Winter Adult Dodgeball League - Postponed until May 6. A decision will be made at that time. If the season is cancelled on May 6 all teams which have paid their full fees (5 have not) will be issued credits for the next season. Teams will be able to use this credit for the Fall 2020 season or the Winter 2021 season. (Credit will be pro rated based on weeks already played)
  • Nipissing Basketball Association - Postponed until May 6. A decision will be made at that time. If the season is cancelled at that time all players will be issued a credit for the next season. Players will be able to use this credit for the 2021 season or our new fall league coming in 2020.


We are especially concerned for our parents of 2 or more players who have registered and paid. We know this is a greater hardship than for the families of one player. Please note that should we find ways to issue refunds in the future these families of multiple players will be first. Unfortunately with the purchase of uniforms and equipment we simply cannot provide NBA refunds. The funds simply have been spent as our registration was only 40% complete.


  • National Dodgeball Festival - Our Festival is postponed at this time. We are looking at a later date in late August. Once this is confirmed we will cautiously announce a possible date on May 1. Teams will be issued credits for the festival. You will be able to use it for the possible festival in August or save it for 2021.


IS ALL HOPE LOST FOR REFUNDS????


We hope to return even better in the future. We hope you will stay with us and support us through this tough time as we sure want to bring our games back to you and make good on all the credits and activities. Though we cannot give refunds at this time we do have some hope for the future. Here are the ways we are working to solve our problems for our players and patrons.

  1. Investigating the small business loan program introduced by federal government. 
  2. Looking at what can be returned already purchased though this is not a lot as many things are specific to our event like awards, clothes and equipment. 
  3. Instituting a program where by you can cash your credit in for money when our business is back up and running with events and cash flow (no time line for this option yet)


None of these are perfect solutions and I appreciate that it may be frustrating to hear. Believe me it is frustrating for me as well. It is painful to see what has happened to events we have built and even more painful to say no to people we truly care about in our Pro Sports community. 


Finally I know that some people will understand the issues we are facing and will be supportive. I further know some will be angry and or disappointed with these decisions. Both are understandable feelings and both deserve an honest and clear picture of the situation and the plan moving forward. I have tried to provide this clarity over the past couple weeks and we will continue to provide leadership in the community while lending a hand when we can offer help. COVID-19 will take a lot of things over its course but it will not take my resolve to make sure we keep our promises and eventually make sure everyone is whole with regards to our company. 


I hope you understand our position but mostly I hope you see that time pandemic has caused a situation that many businesses simply could not predict. We are doing our best and we support each one of you in your battle through this tough time in our world. As we get numerous emails and messages please pass this email on to your teams and players. We will be posting a video address and this email on our Facebook pages and on our websites. Lastly please feel free to ask any questions regarding the message I have sent today but there is no sense in asking for special consideration for refunds as we have no ability to deviate from what we have written today. We know the impact and feel bad but we cannot make funds that do not exist suddenly exist when we are deemed a non-essential service and therefore shut down.


Thank you for you support of Pro Sports and please stay safe. When this is all over I hope we can all once again run, jump, play and laugh during the many events we run as a company. I wish you the best and we will update our information whenever we have new things to announce. 


Tim Simpson

Pro Sports Management

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