Don't move to Des Moines, Iowa unless.. (Clinton, Spencer: shopping mall, trendy)

[fezzador]

Don't forget Asia. Over the past 2 decades, MLB has gotten an increasing number of players from Japan, Korea and Taiwan. They might not be *quite* the same talent pool that the Dominican Republic is, but it's significant just the same.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by funksoulbro

Exposure? On ESPN4, maybe, right after the lawn mower races in Kokomo, Indiana. The College World Series is hardly a Super Bowl or even an NCAA Final Four bid. Ken Jennings would probably get stumped if Alex Trebek asked him where the College World Series was held. You never see people circulating sheets around work for the College World Series office pool.

They built the new stadium because their corrupt mayor needed a fresh project for his criminal friends in the building trade. Apart from some lonely 60-year-old man who spends his days in the basement looking at NCAA baseball scores on the computer, who really cares about the College World Series? You can watch future insurance salesmen throw a pitch for the very last time. Whoopee.

All the best baseball players get drafted out of the Dominican Republic, high school, or some community college in Arizona. NCAA D-1 baseball is nowhere close to being NCAA football or basketball.

I think you're biggest mistake is trying to compare CWS to some of the largest events. I wasn't doing that, I"m not sure why you are here??? Using your logic, if the CWS doesn't have same draw as Final Four, it is hardly worth the effort to host it. This is very misguided thinking.

Here are some numbers (a few yrs old, but still good for illustration):

* Attendance for CWS grew 302.6 percent (17,805 to 300,702) between 1970 - 2007
* 445 million viewers watch national TV coverage
* 48% of attendees come from outside NE
* 64% of attendees attend other Omaha attractions while in town for CWS
* CWS vistors pump $25 million into Omaha ecomony each year.

Source: http://www.ernestgoss.com/CWS_OpOnly021308.pdf

The CWS as an event is significant in many ways and can stand on its own merits. Just because it is may not be on your or my radar each year, doesn't not make it a huge deal for Omaha to host it.

[atler8]

I have friends who regularly watch the CWS telecasts every year on tv, as it seems like such a pure, unspoiled version of the game as opposed to say MLB.
When I have managed to watch the games, I have found the games to be a refreshing alternative to MLB.
Over the past decade, I have probably gone to 10 or so college games on an ACC campus near me whereas I have been to Turner Field only once for an MLB game during that time frame.

[funksoulbro]

Originally Posted by atler8

I have friends who regularly watch the CWS telecasts every year on tv, as it seems like such a pure, unspoiled version of the game as opposed to say MLB.

So is any random Little League game in Fort Dodge.

[funksoulbro]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

I think you're biggest mistake is trying to compare CWS to some of the largest events. I wasn't doing that, I"m not sure why you are here??? Using your logic, if the CWS doesn't have same draw as Final Four, it is hardly worth the effort to host it. This is very misguided thinking.

They could (and did) host it at Rosenblatt Stadium for decades. Then the NCAA threatened Omaha, so the corrupt mayor told his con-artist friends in the concrete industry he could get them wheelbarrows full of taxpayer cash.

...And that's how the how the College World Series stayed in Omaha. I'd say using millions in local taxpayer dollars to grease the palms of your construction buddies is money well spent...Especially when it comes to something as important and vital to life as college baseball.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by funksoulbro

They could (and did) host it at Rosenblatt Stadium for decades. Then the NCAA threatened Omaha, so the corrupt mayor told his con-artist friends in the concrete industry he could get them wheelbarrows full of taxpayer cash.

...And that's how the how the College World Series stayed in Omaha. I'd say using millions in local taxpayer dollars to grease the palms of your construction buddies is money well spent...Especially when it comes to something as important and vital to life as college baseball.

OK....I don't know what you issue is with the mayor of Omaha (and frankly not sure I care), but to try and get back to the point I originally made -- Events like this pump millions of dollars into local economies regardless if the average Joe can name one or two of the college athletes that will be participating. Name recogition of the athletes is an irrelvant factor in determining the worthiness of hosting such an event.

[Tek_Freek]

You're wasting your time. This ones another Ronnie clone.

[funksoulbro]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

OK....I don't know what you issue is with the mayor of Omaha (and frankly not sure I care), but to try and get back to the point I originally made -- Events like this pump millions of dollars into local economies regardless if the average Joe can name one or two of the college athletes that will be participating. Name recogition of the athletes is an irrelvant factor in determining the worthiness of hosting such an event.

Sure, and the NCAA strung Omaha taxpayers along so they could get a fancy stadium they didn't really need to house college players virtually nobody has heard of. It's great to see government officials have their priorities in line, isn't it?

[Tek_Freek]

Here we are again. First we have to listen to tripe about Madison and now were off on politics in Omaha

We

don't

care

Go Whinge on the Omaha forum.

[funksoulbro]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

Here we are again. First we have to listen to tripe about Madison and now were off on politics in Omaha.

I figured you Des Moines folks would love an opportunity to rip on Omaha, since they're obviously encroaching on your "Biggest, Bestest Metro Under a Million With A Really Cool Skyline and Trendy Shopping Malls" title that Forbes magazine is set to announce next month.

Isn't the First National Tower just a couple feet higher than the Principal Tower? I bet Forbes will have to start figuring out which mall has the trendier food court to provide a definitive answer.