By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
In Summary:
Apopka is moving forward with an RFP process to bid out field use at the Northwest Recreation Complex, a move some say targets Central Florida Soccer Club (CFSC). During public comment, resident Rod Olsen said CFSC has paid 8–17 times more than other youth sports nonprofits for field access and urged commissioners to approve a long-term agreement at comparable rates. CFSC President Naji Khouri said the club will participate in the RFP process but is seeking transparency about why the competitive bid requirement was introduced only for CFSC while other organizations received five-year renewals.
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For years, Central Florida Soccer Club families have treated the Northwest Recreation Complex like home. But now, the club’s access to those same fields is being put out to bid, a shift that has sparked claims of unequal treatment, drawn sharp public criticism, and raised new questions about how Apopka sets youth sports rental rates.
During public comment at the January 21 Apopka City Council meeting, Rod Olsen, a frequent speaker and the grandparent of four children who have played with the Central Florida Soccer Club (CFSC), urged commissioners to intervene immediately and approve a long-term rental agreement that matches what other youth sports organizations pay.
“This club has paid over 8–17 times what other youth sport organizations pay over the past five years for four fields plus game days,” Olsen said, calling the situation “unfair, unjust, and discriminatory.”
The comments were directed at Request for Proposal (RFP) ID 2026-A-275WRC, labeled the NWRC Sports Field Rental Project, which would competitively bid out field use at the Northwest Recreation Complex.
At the center of the dispute is the claim that CFSC has been charged dramatically higher rates than other nonprofit youth sports organizations operating at the same facility.
According to Olsen and supporting materials provided to City leadership, the Apopka Little League pays $1.48 per hour, increasing to $2.22 in 2028, for six fields — and does not pay additional fees for games. Apopka Pop Warner rents four fields at $2.29 per hour, while Apopka Raptors AAU rents one field at $2.99 per hour, though the speaker said the group uses more than one field in practice.
By comparison, the materials provided to commissioners state that CFSC has paid $51,000 for the use of four fields and game days, an additional $6,000-10,000 for games on weekends
and has been charged far more per hour than the other organizations.
Olsen told the commission that all four groups are qualifying nonprofits and questioned why only the soccer club is being forced into a competitive bid process.
“If this is such a smart move for the City to competitively bid out field rental, then why has the City not bid out all fields?” Olsen asked. “This RFP clearly targets the Central Florida Soccer Club. Why?”
In written materials shared with the commission, Olsen said the disparity is rooted in a long-standing history of baseball and football in Apopka and the City’s view of soccer as primarily recreational, even though many baseball, softball, and football programs also travel and participate in tournaments.
The speaker said complaints about field quality “came to a head almost two years ago,” and claimed the City responded with a series of actions that felt retaliatory, including closing four fields to CFSC, allowing outside groups to use the fields first, delaying multi-year contract negotiations with CFSC, signing five-year contracts with other organizations, and now moving to bid out the fields to the highest bidder.
Olsen also emphasized CFSC’s role beyond athletics, stating the organization serves more than 500 children and provides financial and community support programs, including:
- More than $35,000 in financial assistance for youth players
- More than 7,500 food items donated to local elementary school pantries
- Support for Teacher Appreciation Week
- Christmas giving tree gifts for students
- Volunteer opportunities for Apopka High School credit requirements
- Free recreational coaching and seasonal training
- Free Friday night open play
Olsen asked the commission to approve a long-term agreement immediately — and to set CFSC’s rate at $2.15 per hour, described as the average of the other youth organizations.
“You, as commissioners, have the right and responsibility to make this right,” he said. “Immediately engage with CFSC in a 5-year field rental agreement in line with the three other youth sports organizations.”
The City’s competitive bid process could determine whether CFSC remains at the Northwest Recreation Complex under a new agreement or must pay significantly higher costs to continue operating in Apopka.
Olsen warned that the likely outcome could be that parents of hundreds of children are forced to leave Apopka to play travel soccer, or that CFSC faces even steeper fees than it already pays.
Mayor Bryan Nelson and City Administrator Radley Williams did not respond to an email from The Apopka Voice by the time of publication regarding the City’s RFP policy for fields at the Northwest Recreation Complex, possibly due to the “Cone of Silence” rules that apply during active procurement and bidding processes.
The Cone of Silence is a communication restriction designed to prevent behind-the-scenes influence during a competitive bid process, typically limiting what City officials and staff can discuss publicly or privately about an open RFP outside of formal channels, so all potential bidders receive the same information and the process remains fair and legally defensible.
In a statement to The Apopka Voice, Central Florida Soccer Club President Naji Khouri said the organization plans to participate in the City’s bidding process, but questioned why the RFP approach was applied only to CFSC while other youth sports groups received long-term renewals.
“We understand and respect the City’s decision to move to an RFP process, and we are prepared to participate in that process in good faith,” Khouri said.
“What concerns us is not the existence of an RFP, but the fact that it was introduced only in our case. After decades of service to the community, including a three-year agreement and more than 20 years of prior field use, we requested a five-year agreement—consistent with what other youth sports organizations received.
“Instead, a bidding requirement was applied to our organization alone, while all other sports organizations were renewed for five-year terms. That inconsistency is what we are seeking to understand and address.
“We will comply with the RFP process. However, it is important to acknowledge that this process was implemented selectively and represents a departure from how the City has historically handled these agreements. We are asking for transparency as to why our organization is treated differently.”
Key Points:
- The City issued RFP 2026-A-275WRC to competitively bid out field rentals at the Northwest Recreation Complex.
- Resident Rod Olsen told council CFSC has paid 8–17 times more than other youth sports organizations for four fields and game days.
- Olsen cited hourly rates for other groups, including Apopka Little League ($1.48/hour), Apopka Pop Warner ($1.62/hour), and Apopka Raptors AAU ($2.99/hour).
- CFSC leaders say the RFP process represents a selective policy change after the club requested a five-year agreement consistent with other youth sports groups.
- City leaders did not respond to questions by publication time, potentially due to Cone of Silence restrictions during an active procurement process.
