Why ‘Stay to Play’ hotel rules are costing youth sports families hundreds

Traveling for youth sports is a normal occurrence for most families, but according to a new report by Oklahoma Watch, it’s coming with hidden strings attached. Their investigation highlights the growing use of “stay to play” rules, a policy that requires teams to book lodging from a tournament-approved list of hotels.

Oklahoma Watch Reporter Jennifer Palmer spoke with News On 6 Anchor Dave Davis about what she found, including how some families are being forced to choose costly hotel stays or risk their child’s team being disqualified.

Q: What is ‘stay to play’ and how does it work?

Palmer: “It’s essentially when families travel to youth sports tournaments, and the tournament requires them to book a hotel from a specific list. This is common in sports like soccer, softball, volleyball and hockey. If families don’t comply, their child—or even the whole team—could be pulled from the tournament.”

Q: Why is this becoming a problem for families?

Palmer: “Families told me they feel stuck. Even if they don’t want to stay at one of the hotels listed—which are often more expensive than other options—they do it anyway to avoid disqualification. Some parents said they’d prefer staying with relatives or using their RV, but those options are off the table.”

Q: Are there any ways to opt out of these hotel requirements?

Palmer: “Yes, but they’re pricey. Some tournaments, especially in softball, offer a ‘buyout’ option. That means the team pays a fee—sometimes $500 to $2,000 or more—just for the right to choose their own lodging. That money goes straight to the tournament, and the families still have to pay for a hotel on top of that.”

Q: What are the broader costs of youth sports these days?

Palmer: “Youth sports, especially competitive teams, are already expensive. We're talking thousands of dollars per child per season—for club fees, coaching, and uniforms. Travel is actually the most expensive part, and when you add in these forced hotel stays, the total cost becomes even harder to manage.”

Q: What do tournament organizers say about this?

Palmer: “I reached out to several. The Dallas Stars hockey organization, which runs many tournaments in Texas and Oklahoma, said they had to pause their stay-to-play model this season. They claimed some teams were actually disappointed not to use the service. But every parent I talked to said the hotel deals weren’t a value. The Stars did confirm that the arrangement brings in some profit—though they described it as minimal.”

Q: Is this practice legal?

Palmer: “That was one of my big questions. I spoke to several attorneys about federal antitrust laws. They said bundling a product—like a hotel stay—with tournament participation could be problematic. Based on how some tournaments word their policies, the legal experts I spoke to said they may meet the elements for violating antitrust laws.”

Q: What should parents take away from this?

Palmer: “Transparency was the biggest ask I heard from parents. They said, ‘Just tell us what it costs upfront.’ Instead of being forced into costly hotel deals, they’d rather see the full cost laid out clearly—even if it means a higher tournament fee.”

Want to learn more?

You can read the full report at Oklahoma Watch: Forced Housing, Hidden Kickbacks: How Stay to Play Squeezes Sports Parents