The Great Bend City Council has signed a lease agreement with Jason Ward, who will operate and manage the concession area again this year at the Sports Complex.
The lease was approved at the Feb. 17 council meeting. At the same meeting, the mayor signed a facility use agreement with Roger Ward, manager of the Great Bend Bat Cats. That agreement will allow the Bat Cats to use Al Burns Field again this year.
Each year, the City posts Requests for Proposals to be the concessionaire for the Sports Complex. For 2026, RFPs were received from Ward in Great Bend and from Jacob Talkin from the Kansas City area.
After reviewing the RFPs, the administration recommended Ward, noting, “He is local, pricing is cheaper, (he) is familiar with local needs, and has been our concessionaire for several years.” Ward listed as references Public Works Director Scott Keeler, Great Bend Recreation Commission Director Chris Umphres, and Bat Cats Manager Roger Ward.
Ward stated in his proposal, “I have operated and managed the concession area for the previous five years, and I feel that the concession has had a positive impact on the visits to the Sports Complex by the fans, players, coaches, and umpires during that time.”
The staff level varies based on the schedule, Ward said, adding his overall staff is approximately 10-12 people.
Ward has food service experience as an assistant manager for Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store in Great Bend, where he has worked for 13 years. With Braum’s he has received ServSafe Certification and utilizes the techniques and training of proper food handling with his concession area as well.
Ward said he intends to keep the same pricing and menu as last year.
According to the lease agreement, the concessionaire will pay the City 10% of the gross receipts and will handle all normal maintenance of the property. He will maintain insurance, have the concession open during all scheduled events, and will follow ordinances and laws related to operating the business. He also agrees to provide “a wide variety of menu items.”
The 2026 schedule at the Great Bend Sports Complex features baseball and softball tournaments, as well as the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on March 28, Big Bend Bash USSSA Baseball on April 18, Bling Battle on May 15-17 and Hap Dumont tournaments May 30-31 and June 27-28.
Bat Cats
Roger Ward annually requests a facility use agreement for the Bat Cats at Al Burns Field at Veterans Memorial Park for the sum of $1. He has managed the team for several years, bringing teams to town from across the state.
The 2026 agreement runs from May 15 to Aug. 1.
The Great Bend Recreation Commission has the authority to schedule the premises. They are also used for GBRC programs, Great Bend USD 428 baseball, Kansas State High School Activities Association baseball tournaments and the Great Bend American Legion Baseball teams during the spring and summer.
GBRC will prepare the field for games for $25 per game if requested by Ward.
