More on the NorCal Facility Use Fee - Not all facilities on-board?

The introduction of a $25 per player registration League Facility Use Fee (LFU Fee) to be implemented perhaps later in 2020 in NorCal USTA League has ruffled the feathers of players across NorCal.  So much so that there is a blog and drive/petition to have the fee rescinded before it is implemented, and as of my writing this, over 2,900 have signed the petition.

From looking at the history of how this fee garnered support over the years (see this for a run-down), it appears some board members have been pushing for this fee for a number of years, and as the board membership changed got enough members to support it and vote it through in December.  The change in board make-up appears to have added representatives from a number of private clubs/facilities that would seem to benefit from the distribution of the LFU Fee, and you'd think that all facilities would be on-board with it.

But apparently not.  At least one group of clubs, Spare Time Sports Clubs, has come out opposing the implementation of the fee writing a letter to their members (click images below at end of this article) expressing their opposition to the fee and efforts to have it rescinded.  The are (rightly IMHO) concerned about how it will affect participation in leagues and should the LFU Fee go forward in being implemented, are working to get exceptions from paying the fee for Spare Team team members and in the absence of that, will find ways to return the fee to their players from the distribution they get.

Are other facilities also opposed to the LFU Fee?  Is this actually an opportunity for clubs that are willing to refund the fee to increase membership and USTA League participation at their facilities?

Leave a comment, let us know what you are hearing from other players or the facilities you play at.

Spare Time letter to members, click to see full size