Written by Scott Coers – Brownwood’s new Sports Coordinator, Roland Soto, was the speaker for today’s monthly Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Soto was raised in Brownwood and told attendees he’s very excited about the opportunities that present themselves for Brownwood as a central hub in Texas for sporting events.

Presenting sponsor for today’s chamber luncheon was Bruner Auto Group. Other sponsors for the event included Brownwood Regional Medical Center, Cook’s Fish Barn, Humphrey Pete’s, Elliott Electric, and Kindred at Home Hospice.

Soto’s presentation focused on all of the great things that Brownwood has to offer, including the Burt Massey Sports Complex, the Brownwood Soccer complex, and Brownwood Coliseum. “We have great sports facilities here, with the investment that the community has made in these facilities they present a great platform for the city to draw tourism dollars here, and to showcase what Brownwood has to offer.”

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Soto also touched on other sports venues and attractions like Gordon Wood Stadium, Pecan Bayou Paddle Trail, Bennie Houston Center, the aquatic center, skate park and Riverside Disc Golf course.

“Compared to our competitor set with other communities about our size, we are light years ahead,” said Soto.

Working with the local sports associations has been one of the highlights of Soto’s time so far as sports coordinator. “One of the things I have been blown away with in our local sports associations is the amount of zeal that they have for these leagues and the sports that their children are participating in. The parents and board members that are in charge of these local associations, do a great job. They have been good stewards of our current facilities.”

Soto went on to say that part of his roll will be to partner with the local associations, take some of the work off of them so that Brownwood can continue to get these events year after year.

“I can’t say enough about what the local associations have done, their relationship and their contacts are going to help us continue to bring these events here.”

Soto talked about the potential for larger associations bring their sporting events. “We want to connect with our state and national sports associations, marketing our central locations as a neutral site.”

Soto also said he was very excited about the prospects of future events, but also wanted to focus on bring events that have been held in Brownwood in the past back to life. “We are currently holding the Brownwood Coliseum because one of the events that we are so excited about and haven’t been able to talk publicly about yet is bring the Brownwood Holiday Classic Basketball tournament back.”

Soto concluded his presentation saying. “One of the things my family missed the most about Brownwood when we moved away was the people. I missed how we were treated here. I missed the type of schools that we have here. So when it came time to move back the decision was easy because the quality of life my kids would have growing up here. When we get to showcase that, through these events, through people coming here, having a baseball tournament and spending some time in the community we have the opportunity to draw people here for new jobs, new residents, and impact our community.”