CoachCarter,
Simple answer: Yes the teams are funding the League and hopefully they will be making some money. We do not receive any entry fee money at all.
I don't know who you are. I'm very easy to get in touch with if you have an axe to grind. You are misinformed about several things.
You are not anything close to what or who you're portraying. I do believe you have an axe to grind. It's VERY obvious you are out to cause some harm.
The league in question is only in Florida. We have had several teams from other states contact us about doing the same thing. We have built a close realtionship with many of the top summer teams in the country, we don't need to steal them. We didn't feel like we could do a good job if we are involved all over the country this year.
FYI, These are teams that have run their own tournaments in the past. They do it to help make money for their programs. Our main objective is to see the top players. This gives us a chance to scout many of the top Florida players more often than in the past. We are basically interested in helping these teams that have been loyal to us in the past. They plan to play in each others tournaments. I would imagine they will all pay an entry fee for each tournament they attend, thus supporting each other. That part is none of our business. We do not allow any teams in our WWBA or BCS tournaments unless they pay the entry fee. We have no problem getting teams to play or to pay.
These (Florida) programs attend our bigger tournaments and they ALL pay the same as any other team... Ask them!
Regarding weak players paying for good players. You can't possibly know how that works or you wouldn't talk about it. If anyone wants to attend an event but can't afford it, we always try to figure out how to help them. It doesn't matter how good the player is. People who can afford it do pay. Doesn't make any difference if it was the Uptons, Scott Kazmir, Prince Fielder, etc., they all paid. If someone can't pay, we try to figure out how to help them. Sometimes it even happens through these many travel teams that we work with. It's not always easy because of NCAA rules, but we can usually get it done. The NCAA knows what we do and how we do it.
We actually work very closely with a former NCAA Compliance officer. Last year at our National Showcase, full of top prospects, the head of amatuerism and eligibility for the NCAA, spoke to every kid at our National Showcase. MLB also sent someone from the Commissioners Office to talk to the players. Both of these people mapped out the legalities involved. Why would we invite the NCAA to talk to the kids at our event that has the most talented players, if we had anything to hide?
You are claiming we have an agenda to control all of amatuer baseball and trying to give your program 1 option. Please, people have many options including you. We are a very small part of amatuer baseball. No one is forced to be involved with PG. Besides we turn away 100s of teams each year that we simply don't have room for. That's why we are building a 16 field complex.
Once again, if you're on the up and up, contact me. I will be more than happy to very politely answer all your questions. You have to understand that the last time something like this came up here, it was investigated and the poster was working for a competitor. If you're for real and do care about all this, please at least have the guts to stand up and let me know who I'm talking to, rather than making anonymous accusations.