City leaders struck out in their bid to bring the 2010 American Legion Baseball World Series to historic Muzzy Field.
Jim Quinlan, spokesman for the American Legion, said today that Bristol lost out to Spokane, Wash. in a close vote of the national committee.
That probably closes the door on Bristol's chances of ever hosting the annual event because rule changes have made it so that in the future, the tournament will be held in the city where the Legion's national convention is taking place.
The five-day event will be held at Spokane's Avista Stadium instead of in Bristol.
"Spokane will be an outstanding site for the series, based on its strong community support and excellent organizing committee," said American Legion National Americanism Commission Chairman Joseph E. Caouette Jr., according to a Legion press release.
"The city of Spokane will be an outstanding host," he said.
This is the first time Spokane has hosted the American Legion World Series, though it's been held three times in Yakima, Wash., most recently in 2001.
Bristol competed against Spokane and Bartlesville, Ok. for the right to host the 2010 World Series, according to Quinlan.
He said that some of the decision-makers preferred Bristol, but Spokane got the majority.
Organizers for the nation's largest veterans organization said they expect the Spokane World Series will draw 25,000 to 30,000 spectators to Vista Stadium. Fans are expected to spend more than $4 million and book about 1,000 motel-room nights in the area.
Mayor Art Ward and city Park Director Ed Swicklas were among a handful of Bristol representatives who flew to Indianapolis last weekend to make a pitch for Muzzy Field. With ESPN's backing, they said they felt they made a strong case.
Representatives from Spokane's American Legion Baseball, the Washington State American Legion, Avista Stadium and the Spokane Regional Sports Commissioned also went to Indianapolis to seek the Series, according to KOZE-AM, a Spokane radio station.
The American Legion Baseball program, which has fielded teams at Muzzy for more than 80 years, is the nation's oldest high school aged baseball program. It claims more than half of today's Major League Baseball players played on a Legion team before reaching the pros.
The Legion's National Executive Committee – the group's board of directors - made the final decision on the World Series location.
Quinlan said that he would like to have made it possible for Bristol's Fran Mullins, a baseball legend in Legion circles, to see the group's World Series in 2010 at his home field, but the panel opted for Spokane for sound reasons.
After I spoke with Quinlan, the American Legion issued this press release:
INDIANAPOLIS, May 8 PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Avista Stadium in Spokane, Wash., will be the site of the 2010 World Series of American Legion Baseball, the nation's oldest high school aged baseball program for 15- to 19-year-olds.
The National Executive Committee, the formal name of The American Legion's board of directors, announced today at its annual spring meeting here that Spokane American Legion Baseball Inc., will host the series. The American Legion World Series will feature the nation's eight regional champions in a double-elimination tournament. The five-day event will be held Aug. 13-17, 2010.
"Spokane will be an outstanding site for the series, based on its strong community support and excellent organizing committee," American Legion National Americanism Commission Chairman Joseph E. Caouette Jr. said. "The city of Spokane will be an outstanding host." This is the first time Spokane has hosted The American Legion World Series. Yakima, Wash., hosted The American Legion World Series in 1954, 1978, and 2001.
Washington American Legion teams have had excellent success playing American Legion Baseball. There are no host teams at an American Legion World Series. To participate in an American Legion World Series teams must earn the right to participate. Thirteen Washington American Legion Teams have earned that right to participate. Those cities were Bellingham (07); Bellevue (81 & 95), Kennewick (99 & 04); Pasco (05); Vancouver (87 & 96); and Yakima, Washington (53, 75, 76, 79 & 88) have participated by winning the Northwest Regional Tournament.
There are more than 5,000 registered American Legion teams. More than half of today's Major Leaguers got their start in American Legion Baseball.
Fifty-two former American Legion Baseball players have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Ryan Sandberg, George Brett, Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, Yogi Berra, Jim Palmer, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, Reggie Jackson, Pee Wee Reese, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers and Tom Seaver.
Organizers for the nation's largest veterans organization expect the Spokane World Series will draw 25,000 to 30,000 spectators to Vista Stadium. Fans are expected to spend more than $4 million and book about 1,000 motel-room nights. The 2.7-million member American Legion, http://www.legion.org/, is the nation's largest veterans organization.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
37 comments:
That's okay ...... I'm sure our leaders will be able to find other ways to waste the taxpayers money .
I just hope that in their attempt to become calipornia east , we don't end up bankrupt like the cities in calipornia .
Thanks anyways gentlemen! It was a great idea and some of us actually do appreciate your efforts.
Can we find out how much was spent on this trip to nowhere ??
I am sure the bar tab alone was huge.
Nothing ventured -- nothing gained.
At least our leaders tried and I hope they keep trying to bring more revenue opportunities to our city.
More proof that no good deed goes unpunished....
Thank God for Art Ward.
I appreciate the effort, too. Thanks to everyone that tried.
"That's okay ...... I'm sure our leaders will be able to find other ways to waste the taxpayers money"
"Our leaders" were attempting to bring Bristol some major revenue. Could your head possibly be any further up your rectum?!!!
~Once again, I am amazed by my "fellow citizen's" lack of gratitude for efforts made on their behalf...Thank you Mayor Ward and company for trying!
"That's okay ...... I'm sure our leaders will be able to find other ways to waste the taxpayers money"
--You're correct of course. What a joke this was. I don't believe Bristol was even in the running for this "event". It's just another excuse for the "Legion crowd" to go belly up to a new bar.
May 8, 2008 9:45 PM:
If you're amazed in this instance by a "lack of gratitude", just wait until everyone gets their tax bills!
Hey ..... we have E.S.P.N. here in town .
Let's see if we can get N.A.S.C.A.R. to include Bristol Connecticut in the championship series .
We can send the mayor to follow the circuit ( all expenses paid ) to investigate the possiblity .
What , with the bristol center mall fiasco etc .... the taxpayers are kinda getting numb to the thoughtless expenditures of their hard earned money .
May 9, 2008 10:39 AM: LOL!!!
How about the NFL, the NCAA, the NHL, and the NBA too? Oh and don't forget the nude female wrestling circuit!!
"What a joke this was. I don't believe Bristol was even in the running for this "event". It's just another excuse for the "Legion crowd" to go belly up to a new bar."
~ Oh well then, why didn't you say so...if YOU don't believe Bristol was even in the running, no one should have bothered! Heck, you even know the real motive for the trip...those sneaky guys flew all the way to Indianapolis just for a shot at bellying up to a new bar!
"What a joke" (Yes, you are).
"HAW HAW" (points finger)
-- Nelson, from "The Simpsons"
"How about the NFL, the NCAA, the NHL, and the NBA too? Oh and don't forget the nude female wrestling circuit!!"
~Although I'm sure that these are all things that you and your buddies at the trailer park find entertaining....oh, wait a minute, that's a joke, huh? Oh, I get it now...you're trying to be funny. Lets see, making insulting, stupid comments is FUNNY...Hey, pull my finger!!!
~Once again, I am amazed by my "fellow citizen's" lack of gratitude for efforts made on their behalf...Thank you Mayor Ward and company for trying!
May 8, 2008 9:45 PM
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Look .... if the mayor had taken the thousands of dollars spent on the current fiacso and set it on fire in the city hall foyer , at least it would have provided some heat and light , AND , made it possible for the mayor to attend the meeting essential to the developement of the west end .
"Look .... if the mayor had taken the thousands of dollars spent on the current fiacso and set it on fire in the city hall foyer , at least it would have provided some heat and light , AND , made it possible for the mayor to attend the meeting essential to the developement of the west end ."
Look .... I think the entire trip cost the city about $700 for both the Mayor and Mr. Swicklas....certainly not thousands (not much heat or light from that little fire). Had the mayor and his group been successful, the city could have potentially made thousands.
~ even a a slow kindergartener could figure out the math here.
May 9, 2008 1:40 PM said:
"Although I'm sure that these are all things that you and your buddies at the trailer park find entertaining"
In regards to NFL, NBA, NCAA, NHL? Hey stupid, if poor people were all that were interested in these things I don't think these sports be triving like they are today.
Oh and BTW, it's what all the drunks at Sporty's watch every night...but you didn't know that because you're too busy sipping lattes and reading the liberal print media and downloading Moveon.org, right? You need to get more in touch with your peeps there Mrs/Mr Hack.
Bad headline.
While we may have "struck out", at least got to bat in the big leagues!
~Gee there 5:39, I was actually kinda referring to the nude female wrestling circuit...but my point was how small-minded people make nasty, insulting comments in a weak attempt to be witty, and they just come across as kinda pathetic. You know, the kind of person who resorts to name calling and ... Oops, that you, huh? Sorry...Maybe I should head over to Sporty's and "get in touch with my peeps"...
Have a nice night!
Regards,
Mr./Mrs. Hack
:-}
May 9, 2008 9:39 PM:
Gee there, maybe you should pay attenbtion to what you write? You referenced all those organizations in your quote/critique. To be honest, you sound like a men's figure skating fan.
"Gee there, maybe you should pay attenbtion to what you write?"
I think maybe we all should try to pay better attenbtion to what we write!
Look .... I think the entire trip cost the city about $700 for both the Mayor and Mr. Swicklas....
~ even a a slow kindergartener could figure out the math here.
May 9, 2008 5:08 PM
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Sorry ....... I didn't realise the mayor and mr. swicklas contributed their sick days and vacation time while making arrangements in the weeks leading up to the implementation of this most current fiasco .
BECAUSE ...... if they do NOT then the thousands of dollars wasted would certainly be quite a conservative estimate for pay alone , not including the WORK which could have been done for us taxpayers .
"Sorry ....... I didn't realise the mayor and mr. swicklas contributed their sick days and vacation time while making arrangements in the weeks leading up to the implementation of this most current fiasco."
~ You don't "realise" a lot of things. This was a one night trip. They left on Saturday morning and were back on Sunday night. They didn't need to take any time from work. It was the weekend.
2:47
I don't know where you got that information, but the mayor doesn't get vacation or "sick time"
He is not on the clock.
As far as Swicklas, he has plenty of timecoming to him: how he uses it is up to him, but maybe his attendance record should be checked to set the record straight.
This is an issue. Was the cost of sending the mayor and a department head to Indy worth the award bringing the Legion Tourney here? That's open for debate. Perhaps a letter or a phone call might have been more cost effective (obviously it would have). The fact is that this effort failed.
"Was the cost of sending the mayor and a department head to Indy worth the award bringing the Legion Tourney here? That's open for debate. Perhaps a letter or a phone call might have been more cost effective (obviously it would have). The fact is that this effort failed"
Hell YES it was worth the $700 to send them to Indy. The Legion Tournament could have brought in thousands (perhaps even millions) to Bristol and the surrounding area, and no that is not open for DEBATE. That is a fact.
NO a letter would not suffice. The competing cities all made presentations in their bid to have the series come to their hometowns. Our representatives also prepared and gave a presentation...they HAD to attend.
If you think taking a $700 gamble at a chance to make that much money was a waste...you're the one with the ISSUES.
As was stated if you think that sending these two city executives only cost $700, you have "issues"
(stupidity issues).
8:12 - As was stated, I KNOW the trip cost our city about $700 (round trip plain old airline flight for two and a one night stay in a plain old hotel). The gentleman all paid for their own food, beverages and transportation. That's it. No lost wages. NADA. What part don't you get? You're shooting off your mouth without a single fact to back it up and then you call ME the one with "stupidity issues"... POT/KETTLE! LOL :-}
Anonymous said...
8:12 - As was stated, I KNOW the trip cost our city about $700 (round trip plain old airline flight for two and a one night stay in a plain old hotel).
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Apparently the mayor spent no time(expense) preparing for the venture . Now I can see why it failed so miserably .
Thanks to you I now have a more clear understanding of the legion fiasco .
Time = Money
out of town = missed west end meeting
no preparation = failure
May 12, 2008 8:25 AM:
I guess you never had a managerial role in anything. Let's say you were a boss and you had to send one of your direct reports out for training. The training would cost $700. Do you think that's all it would cost the business? What about lost production time?
Does Ward and Swicklis have nothing produective to do here? Is that why the Charter Revision Committee recommended a COO? Do you think that neither Ward nor Swicklis got behind because of this? Were they not getting paid to do the job at hand here? Is flying to Indiana part of their normal job?
I think it probably was probably worth a shot to try and get this event to Bristol. I wonder how much revenue the American Legion baseball series would have really generated. But again to think that the cost was only equal to the price of the flight and accomodations is plain ignorant.
"Apparently the mayor spent no time(expense) preparing for the venture ."
~ and apparently you're still making those silly, baseless assumptions without a fact or a clue (but hey, that never stops YOU now, does it?). The mayor met with, prepared and practiced the presentation with the rest of the group several times (on his own dime). They were actually very well prepared.
"Now I can see why it failed so miserably ."
~ The presentation did not fail "miserably." Bristol was the committee's second choice.
"Thanks to you I now have a more clear understanding of the legion fiasco ."
~ Aw, that's nice! You're welcome, although frankly I think it's pretty obvious that the whole "clear understanding" concept is a bit beyond your capabilities. But hey, we all have issues, right? You have a nice night! ;-}
To 4:43 pm And you sir know everything , but no one will listen to a coward. You have a nice night !
~ Aw gee, sorry 6:49. I just like to check the facts before I shoot my mouth off...but hey, you stick with that name calling thing...that seems to your strong suit anyway! Have a terrific day! ;-}
Thanks for setting the record straight 4:34. It's refreshing to have some facts instead of listening to the same old blowhard malcontents repeatedly shooting their mouths off without having a clue! We are listening.
Whatsa a matter 9:06 ? Can't take it when the truth is told ?
9:49 ~ once again ~ "POT/KETTLE"!
;-)
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