Yay! It is here. It is time for the 2019 College World Series and another interview with College World Series of Omaha, Inc.
This is one of my favorite things each year, to talk with you and learn more about the College World Series.
It’s one of my favorite things to talk about, the College World Series.
I think you are nine years as director and 30 years with the College World Series?
31 years with working on the College World Series.
You must have seen a lot of changes over the years and some things that are absolutely important to stay the same.
Yes, you are right. It is always a delicate balancing act keeping the same that fans look forward to revisiting when they return as well as giving them some new and exciting reasons to come back.
What’s new this year and what’s some of the things that you have noticed that people look forward to throughout the years?
Well in terms of some of the newer things, we have some activities. This year, somewhat in recognition of all the extraordinary efforts that first responders made in relation to the flooding we have had in our area, we have added a First Responders Day… that is going to be for game number 5, Monday June 17th…at 1 o’clock and that is new. On the field, we will be recognizing some first responders. We’ll have first responders as part of our color guard…well deserved recognition for folks that have put in extraordinary hours and effort and still aren’t finished with the flood relief.
We have a Kids Day which is Wednesday June 19th. That’s the 6:00 PM game. So, that would be game number 9. That will be the first time that kids 12 and under will be able to run the bases after the game. That will be fun.
On Monday, finals one, June 24th, that’s are Veterans-Military Appreciation Day as well.
What will be going on for that one?
A flyover for one thing. We will also be recognizing some representatives from past conflicts. That’s one of the highlights.
That’s some of our special community days.
It’s not exactly in conjunction with the College World Series but there is a Major League Baseball game going on Thursday the13th and the [College World Series] teams themselves a day early this year so they can attend those games.
So the College World Series teams will be able to attend the Major League game?
Yes so the student athletes and a few members of the travel party will have tickets to the Major League Baseball game on June the 14th. So the student athletes and teams are arriving on Wednesday the 12th.
I am looking forward to that game too.
Yes, that will be exciting. It will be interesting to see how they make that TD Ameritrade Park look like a Major League Baseball park and then turn it around in about 24 hours to make it look like where we are going to have our fan fest set up and where we are going to have opening celebration day and autographs. Then have a big opening ceremony that night.
For opening night ceremony this year we have a band. We are very excited about them, the Eli Young Band [https://eliyoungband.com]. They are a country band and have charted. One of the band members is from Omaha.
That’s exciting too when someone comes home.
Exactly right.
What can you tell us about the teams that might be coming here and who do you think might be an upset team that has a good chance of coming out from behind?
At this point we are still waiting it out. As you know Creighton was eliminated this week. So we won’t see Creighton in action. The super regional competition is about ready to begin. The super regional starts tomorrow [add date] and the winners of the super regional then come to Omaha.
Anything new for vendors or the area?
That reminds me of some of the Little League teams that come in conjunction with the College World Series.
One is run by a gentleman who is local. That is called The Battle of Omaha.
There is another out of Colorado and is called The Stump Buster Tournament.
Last year they had more than 500 teams and this year I think more than 700 teams.
They come from all over the country. Last year I think they had 35 states represented and I am guessing more this year with those increased numbers.
Do they get to play on the field there [TD Amertrade Park]?
They do not. They use fields throughout the metro area. I know they use a lot over in Council Bluffs and in Omaha. They bring in thousands of young athletes and their families. It’s a tremendous economic impact to the city. What happens is they start before the College World Series games and run partly after we wrap up. So they bring in a couple of waves of kids that participate.
So they are playing kind of the same time as the College World Series?
They are and they do that intentionally. With our general admission program, they … can watch (when they are not playing) the College World Series.
That’s great for us because it exposes young people all over the country to the College World Series. Not saying that we don’t bring in folks on our own but these are people that may or may not have planned to come to this year’s Series but now that their team is playing they will definitely take in a game or two.
Please see our other stories:
2018
2018 Interview with Al Avila, VP and GM of the Detroit Tigers
OmahaNebraska.com Interview with Al Avila, VP and GM of the Detroit Tigers
2018 Interview with Kathryn Morrissey, Executive Director of CWS Omaha Inc.
CWS Interview with Kathryn Morrissey, Executive Director, College World Series of Omaha, Inc.
What’s new in food for 2018
CWS Media Tasting 2018: Great Food Meets the Greatest Show on Dirt
2018 Interview with Chef Chris Myers
Omaha Interview: Chris Myers with Levy Restaurants at TD Ameritrade Park for College World Series
Tigers to Play Royals in Omaha! MLB Comes to Omaha!
OmahaNebraska.com Interview with Al Avila, VP and GM of the Detroit Tigers
OmahaNebraska.com Interview with Al Avila, VP and GM of the Detroit Tigers
2017
Al Martinez Hits First Home Run for College World Series- Before the First Game is Played!
Al Martinez Hits First Home Run for College World Series- Before the First Game is Played!
Omaha Interview with Kristi Andersen, Director of Communications at MECA
Omaha Interview with Kristi Andersen, Director of Communications at MECA
Omaha Interview with Marty Bilek at the College World Series Press Conference
Omaha Interview with Marty Bilek at the College World Series Press Conference
College World Series: Press Conference Omaha
Learn more about the College World Series at:
http://cwsomaha.com
https://www.ncaa.com/championships/baseball/d1
