A Butler nonprofit group may be the key for Kelly Automotive Park to turn a profit.

The Butler Parks, Recreation Grounds and Facilities Authority hopes to have the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources take over marketing the stadium.

The authority last month canceled its marketing agreement with the marketing firm Quest Fore of Pittsburgh, effective at the end of the year.

The authority said the group had not done enough to bring in different events to the stadium.

Chairman Ed Codi believes the local nonprofit group, which already prepares the financial reports for the board, has that ability.

“We need to find annual events,” he said. “We have to fill the gaps in January and February (when there’s no baseball). I’m excited to work with (the nonprofit) and see what we can do.”

Mike Robb, the executive director of the nonprofit, said there have been some conversations about his group handling the marketing, but added nothing has been finalized.

The authority is no stranger to Robb’s groups.

The Nonprofit Development Corporation of Butler, a sister organization of the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources, manages the day to day operations of the ballpark.

Both agencies are part of the Center for Community Resources of Butler, and share the same leadership and personnel.

Part of the alliance’s purpose is facility management for nonprofits and governmental agencies.

Codi believes the alliance’s connections in Butler County will better serve the ballpark.

The group has already started marketing the park this season, as part of its management of the facility.

So far the group has lined up two weddings at the park, the first of which is Friday. It is also trying to secure an Oktoberfest event for the fall and dog shows.

“We need to think outside the box,” Codi said.

The nonprofit also is working to help start an alumni fundraising group with the park.

Chris Lunn, the director of finance for the nonprofit, said he has been speaking with Pat Fecich of Saxonburg about starting the group. Lunn said Fecich pitched the idea to the board.

The idea behind the group is to raise funds through former athletes who played at the park as well as their families. The group also could work to create and help organize events at the park.

Lunn said the group is still in the early stages of development, but has potential.

Another idea Codi pitched is hosting a “Frozen Four” high school ice hockey event at the park in the winter. Codi said the authority is gathering information about the feasibility of holding an outdoor hockey game.

“It’s a tremendous idea,” he said. “People seem to love hockey in 10 degree weather with snow falling down.”

Codi said the event would likely include a double header featuring local high school teams.

Codi said the authority is talking to the Pittsburgh Penguins on information about hosting an outdoor event. The Penguins held the 2011 NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field.

But the need for non-baseball events is not a new idea for the authority, which has $243,000 in debt.

Quest Fore created a marketing plan for the board in 2012. The plan cited a need for different events, including other sports and attractions such as flea markets, to keep the park used throughout the year.

But while the plan was created, the ideas were never fulfilled.

“Quest Fore’s viewpoint was they were hired to just write it up, not enact it,” Robb said. “Our hope and our goal is to take it into action.”

Quest Fore was hired by the authority through a $25,000 annual grant by People’s TWP. The three-year grant program was intended for marketing. The purpose of the plan was to generate revenue, increase use in the park, and establish the park as a community asset.

The marketing group came up with the idea of selling the naming rights of the field. It also suggested room naming rights inside the structure.

The stadium was renamed to Kelly Automotive Park from Pullman Park in December. The naming rights deal is worth $150,000 over five years to the authority.

The firm listed several other ideas in its plan, including having paid sponsorships, participation fees, admission and parking fees, and registration fees.

“They had some good ideas,” Robb said. “They listened to the board and came up with some options there.”

But there has been little success in events.

The authority hosted an oldies concert last summer, but lost nearly $20,000 on the show. Other ideas, which included a 5K race and a Butler County Symphony concert, fell through.

Robb said holding non-baseball events on the field is a difficult task.

“It’s a catch-22,” Robb said. “You want a lot of different events, but you don’t want to damage the field through excessive wear and tear.”

The constant threat of poor weather at an outdoor facility is perhaps the most difficult barrier for the field.

But it’s something the authority needs to figure out.

Robb said his group is having discussions with a young entrepreneurs group at Slippery Rock University.

“We’re seeing what ideas they have for the venue that could help us,” he said. “They’re looking not just at marketing, but at actually creating ideas for the park.”

While Robb said the park needs to have non-baseball events, he maintained that he field’s signature attraction always will be the national pastime.

“We want to promote baseball and highlight it,” Robb said.

Robb said he thinks there is a future at the park.

“I’m optimistic there are things we can use the park for,” he said. “We just have to put our collective minds to use and figure out the best direction we can go.”

Representatives from Quest Fore could not be reached for comment. None were at the authority’s meeting Wednesday.