10H
Date: July 8, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
By: Gabriella Imai, Staff Assistant | [email protected] Subject: City Manager – Discuss and Provide Direction on City Support of the 310 Baseball Torrance Friendship Game s Youth Baseball Tournament. Expenditure:
Not-to-Exceed $30,000 (General Fund).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council discuss and provide direction on potential funding support for the 310 Baseball Torrance Friendship Games Youth Baseball Tournament including expenses related to City staffing, transportation, a City reception, City and district facility rentals, umpires, and tournament equipment.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the fiscal year 2025-26 City Manager’s Office operating budget.
DISCUSSION
Established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 310 Baseball became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a competitive youth baseball program for players ages 9U to 15U throughout the South Bay region of Los Angeles. 310 Baseball emphasizes the recruitment of student-athletes, fostering a safe and inclusive environment, to provide competitive play and a meaningful player experience to equip student-athletes with strong fundamentals and skills. 310 Baseball regularly sends teams to compet e internationally, with t he 12U teams participat ing in tournaments at Cooperstown, and the Pony teams traveling biannually to represent the program in the Japan x USA Friendship Games.
In March of 2025, 310 Baseball submitted a preliminary proposal regarding their Torrance Friendship Games Summer Program in August, with visiting teams from Japan.
Friendship Games has created the opportunity to foster cultural exchange and camaraderie by alternating visits between youth teams from both the United States and Japan. This year’s Summer Program will include representatives from Torrance Friendship City Oshu, Japan, also known as the hometown of Shohei Ohtani. They will be sending a team of 14 and 15-year-old 1 City Council
July 8, 2025
players coached by Toru Ohtani, Shohei Ohtani’s father, a team that Shohei Ohtani himself once played for.
310 Baseball is requesting City support for transportation using City bus services from LAX to the Civic Center for the Oshu team and allows for a welcome reception to be held. 310 Baseball is also requesting a coordinated City tour for visiting players and coaches . Both the reception and city tour would serve as opportunit ies to foster cross-cultural exchange, sportsmanship, and strengthen ties with a Friendship City.
The Friendship Games will take place at Kendall Field at Torrance Park, as well as at Torrance Unified School District’s baseball field at South High School and North High School. During their stay, the Oshu team will have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of activities , including Major League Baseball ( MLB) games, educational workshops, city tours, and visits to local amusement parks. Estimated fees associated with the event items described are provided below. 310 Baseball is requesting up to $30,000 in City funding support to assist in covering the tournaments associated expenses. Recently, staff has become aware that the organization was made aware of pledged funding support from companies such as Toyota and Skechers. As such, staff is providing Council with a detail of in -kind funding support in the areas of Torrance transportation for the Oshu team, as well as expenses related to the City reception, facility rentals for practices and games, umpire fees, equipment, and police presence. The itemized list below totals $21,414.00.
Financial Support Request to City of Torrance
City Fees
Transit Services: LAX to Civic Center $ 374.00
Transit Services: City Tour $ 748.00
Welcome Reception $5,000.00
City Fees Subtotal $6,122.00
310 Baseball Reimbursement Costs
Kendall Field $1,340.00
TUSD South High Field $4,626.00
TUSD North High Field $4,626.00
Umpire Services $3,800.00
Baseballs $ 900.00
310 Baseball Fees Subtotal $15,292.00
Total Requested Financial Support: $21,414.00
310 Baseball has also requested discounted hotel rates for team coaches, visiting dignitaries, and home stay opportunities for visiting players. Staff has connected 310 Baseball with Discover Torrance and Torrance Unified School District, for each of these requests respectively.
The City Manager is requesting that City Council provide direction on potential funding support for the Torrance Friendship Games to be provided to the 310 Baseball Organization. 2 City Council
July 8, 2025
ATTACHMENT
1. 310 Baseball Torrance Friendship Games Proposal
3 310 BASEBALL
2390 Crenshaw Blvd Ste E-411
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 896-8677 | [email protected]
March 27, 2025
City Council of Torrance
Mayor George Chen
City Council Members
City Manager Aram Chaparyan
3031 Torrance Blvd
Torrance, CA 90503
Dear Torrance City Council Members,
My name is Chuck Ono, and I am the founder of 310 BASEBALL, a Torrance-based 501(c)(3). For over 15 years, our organization has facilitated international youth baseball exchanges, fostering cultural understanding and community connections through sports. Over 500 players and their families have participated in exchanges between the USA and Japan, and we aim to expand these eƯorts to benefit the City of Torrance. Here’s how our proposal can positively impact the community.
Key Benefits
Global Community Building : Strengthen Torrance’s global connections through international youth sports exchanges with friendship cities such as Oshu (Iwate Prefecture) and Bizen (Okayama Prefecture).
Boost to the Local Economy : Hosting international sports events will increase local business engagement, attract tourism, and stimulate economic activity. Enhanced Global Reputation : Elevate Torrance’s visibility by fostering relationships with globally recognized cities, leveraging mutual interests such as the popularity of Major League Baseball.
4 ATTACHMENT 1
Proposed Program
We plan to host an International Baseball Cultural Exchange Program in Torrance from August 3– 15, 2025, welcoming youth teams from friendship cities Oshu and Bizen.
Key initiatives include:
Exhibition Games and Local Tournament : Visiting teams, along with local teams, engage in friendly international competition in the city of Torrance. Cultural Events : Organizing city immersion programs, such as tours of Torrance’s attractions (Wilson Park, Torrance Beach, Honda Museum) and community engagement activities like Family Movie Night.
Coaches Clinics: Facilitate knowledge-sharing workshops with coaches from the USA and Japan to strengthen skills and bonds.
Requested Support
To ensure the success of the program, we kindly request the following support:
Facilities: Assistance in securing local sports venues for games and clinics, including Kendall Field, Entradero Park, and South High School's Varsity Baseball Field. Transportation: Coordination of transportation for the following routes:
o LAX Airport to the City of Torrance
o Torrance to Dodger Stadium/Hollywood
o Torrance to Angel Stadium
o Within the city of Torrance
o Torrance to Disneyland
Funding: Financial support of $30,000 to strengthen partnerships with Oshu and Bizen, Torrance's friendship cities. Funding sources may include city allocations, grants, sponsorships, or fundraising events.
Community Partnerships: Collaboration with local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and sports leagues to expand outreach and engagement.
5 Homestay Assistance: Organizing homestay accommodations in Torrance for international players. Players will be paired with families, ideally those connected to baseball, such as families with children who currently play or have played. Hotel Accommodations: Support in arranging hotel accommodations for supervising sta Ư and visiting city oƯicials and their families.
Community Impact
This program promises long-term benefits, aligning with Torrance’s vision of globalism and community enrichment:
Fosters Cross-Cultural Connections: Use sports as a bridge to connect cultures and strengthen international friendships.
Drives Economic Growth: Attract international visitors and elevate Torrance’s influence in youth sports and tourism.
Raises Global Profile: Showcase Torrance’s involvement in international sports events, enhancing its status as a global hub for youth development.
Closing Statement
We believe this initiative aligns with the City of Torrance’s values of community growth, global collaboration, and youth development. With your support, we can establish Torrance as a leader in international youth sports while creating lifelong memories and relationships for participants.
I appreciate your dedication to making Torrance a thriving and interconnected community.
Sincerely,
Chuck Ono
Founding Member, 310 BASEBALL
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