TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Paulina Martinez, Director of Economic Development
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Approving a Hospitality Partnership Agreement for the IHSA State Finals Boys Class 3A and 4A Baseball Tournament with the Heritage Corridor Destinations Convention & Visitors Bureau
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Joliet and Heritage Corridor Destinations Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (HCD) have been working together to host the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Finals Boys Class 3A and 4A Baseball Tournament. The partnership had been formalized through a five-year agreement in 2021, which expires this year. The administration and management of the tournament included the following tasks:
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As the culmination of the original five-year agreement approaches, staff have been evaluating the agreement and a path forward to continue hosting the IHSA Boys Baseball tournament in a collaborative way with all parties involved: IHSA, the Slammers, HCD, and the City of Joliet. For FY 2027, staff proposes a hospitality partner agreement between the City of Joliet and HCD that allows the City to contract HCD to continue to deliver the hospitality services HCD has been rendering in past years for the IHSA tournament. The budget allocated for this program would be up to $50,000.00, which includes a management fee for HCD.
On September 23, 2026, the Land Use & Economic Development Committee recommended City Council approval.
CONCLUSION:
The agreement formalizes the role of HCD as an essential hospitality partner for the IHSA baseball finals. This partnership enhances Joliet’s ability to provide organized visitor services, coordinated lodging, and improved hospitality experiences, complementing the City’s operational responsibilities and IHSA’s statewide event reach. The agreement includes clear financial limits, shared responsibilities, and operational expectations that reduce risk while strengthening the City’s tourism infrastructure.
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