Bank, restaurant step up to the plate for Hannibal Park in Beatrice

BEATRICE – It appears a recent decision by the City of Beatrice to hire a company seeking naming rights support for Hannibal Park upgrades is paying dividends.
Monday night, the Beatrice City Council approved agreements with a bank and a restaurant to add their names to park ballfield facilities.
One sponsor arrangement with Pinnacle Bank is for $200,000 over ten years.
"The facility will now be known as Hannibal Park, Powered by Pinnacle Bank."
The bank is perhaps most recognized for having its name on the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, home of Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball.
A second local agreement for sponsorships on scoreboards is with Runza Restaurants. City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says that name arrangement is for $9,000 over three years. The company that helped the city land the sponsorships receives 30-percent of the money received. Mayor Bob Morgan says the arrangement takes pressure off taxpayers.
"I think if we go back to our budgeting process, the parks are part of our property tax....so these funds help offset not having to increase our taxes for public properties....and gives us, a great amenity."
Currently, Hannibal Park features eight fields, an indoor hitting facility, two children’s playgrounds, shade structures and a connection point to Pioneer Trail.
As the lead founding partner of the revitalized complex, Pinnacle Bank’s logo will be featured on the front entrance of the park. The agreement is non-exclusive in the banking/credit union category and others can join the city in supporting such projects.
Monday night, elected officials also finalized an agreement with a company to help the city find and apply for grant support on behalf of the city. The three-month agreement with Merchant McIntyre Associates has a monthly fee of $8,000.