How is that transition [renaming the ballpark to TD Ameritrade Park to Charles Schwab Field Omaha] been made?
You know, we thought it was kind of exciting. I mean, we got to watch the letters flying through the air kind of like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and being placed up there by what appeared to be little, tiny people. You know, grabbing those big letters and putting them up. So that was kind of fun. But it will be incremental that not every single thing gets changed for this College World Series, but the bigger things.
It’s quite a bit to change. You’ve had all these years to amass lovely opportunities for branding.
Exactly. Exactly. So I’m sure you’ll still see some TD Ameritrade items, but by next year’s series that will all be done.
What has been the biggest change in the fan experience?
Gosh. So, certainly from the move, Rosenblatt. People have told us and I would say that at first, I think they felt a little disloyal to Rosenblatt if they told us that they liked the new stadium, but now we hear that they loved the leg room between the rows, seats. Most of them are wider than the ones they had at Rosenblatt and they can get up and walk 360 degrees around the concourse. That part, I think, they love. Plus, there are four entrances and exits, so it’s very efficient.
What do you think’s been the biggest change for the players?
Oh, that’s a good question. What we understand, and like don’t take this wrong because I loved Rosenblatt, but it had its quirks. It was an older stadium and some of the facilities, especially for the student athlete, were pretty small, somewhat dark. Now they’ve got state of the art facilities for locker rooms or clubhouses, I should say, and it really looks like a major league ballpark. When MLB was here in 2019, they said, ”We hope you understand that this is as nice a park as you will find in Major League Baseball. You’re offering it to the college students and we hope they love that too.”
It’s a great testimonial [regarding the quality of the facilities].
I was fortunate to cover the 2019 MLB game and get an interview with the Detroit Tigers’ GM, Al Avila. He was so nice.
[ https://www.omahanebraska.com/blog/omahanebraska-com-interview-with-al-avila-vp-and-gm-of-the-detroit-tigers]
Our son’s godparents are big Detroit Tiger fans. His godfather came from Detroit. He’s a Detroit native and he came to that game too and he thought he died and gone to heaven.
What do you think have been the biggest changes in the area? We’ve talked about a little bit before that these sorts of things, that spur on economic development. What do you think you’ve seen appear or coming to fruition while the CWS has been in this location?
Well, when we first came here, there weren’t as many options for food and beverages (which we’ve enjoyed that since this is kind of our work home). So that’s been really nice to see some of that. But one of the things I think I like best is that there are opportunities to live and work in this neighborhood. Now it’s less of a just come to an event and then exit and there are apartments going in.
There are spaces that have been developed for some of those groups that I mentioned earlier (some of the lost-arts people) where they can have a showroom rather on the main level, the street level, and they can live above. So we’re seeing more full time residents down here, which I think is a really healthy development.
I’ve noticed that neighborhoods that are successful have a variety of different types of use and different types of people, and a fluidity sort of between all these.
I will also throw in that it would be a great thing if fans remember to bring their clear bags because there’s something about something you do only once a year that it’s easy to forget – still clear bags. And with all the tickets being mobile, it’s a great idea to download those too.
For example, if you have an Apple phone into your Apple wallet before you arrive. Because when you invite several 1000s of your closest friends to the area and they’re all trying to download their tickets at the same time, might be a little slow download, but again, the box office the ticket office is a great customer service location that can help too.
We do have a handful of fans that do not have an email address and/or have in some cases a flip phone, so there is a combination for that. But the number has just dwindled tremendously. I think everybody’s pretty much on board with that mobile everything anymore.
Definitely the shift and change for that [reliance on smartphones] has been huge throughout so many other industries too.
What are the things that you’ve been really happy that didn’t get changed?
Ah, the family focus of the event. I love that we still see generations showing up. I have not been to a Final Four, but that would be obviously tremendously exciting. But because that travels to different locations, because some of the expenses related to that, you don’t, I understand, see many younger people attending. Here, I think it’s a rite of passage. It’s a summer thing you have to go to with your friends and I think people feel very safe attending the College World Series. They drop their kids off. And I really love that I hear stories from people about “You know, I went to the College World Series as a baby. I don’t remember my first game, but my grandparents took me or my parents had come as kids and they wanted to make sure my first baseball game was the College World Series game”. So that family focus is amazing.
And that we make it so special for the teams that are attending. For the student athletes that are on the field for the coaches and for their fans. We get a lot of really nice accolades after the event from people from all over the country who say, you know, “I didn’t know what to expect or I heard that Omaha was great, but you know, I had to see for myself.” You know, people are treated really well when they are here.
Do you still have the guest hosts?
Yes, yes, yes. That’s a great point. We have service clubs, we call them, that are hosts for the teams when they’re here. Basically, they become their adopted family. They’re available 24 hours a day. Some of them are very traditional, like a Lions Club or a Rotary Club or an Optimist Club. But then we also have some ones that are different, you know, like Offutt Air Force Base hosts a team that, you know, is a pretty unique experience too.
Activities for children?
Oh, yes, we have plenty of activities and I’d recommend going to our website, https://cwsomaha.com . But I know we’ve got for example, game number seven is a Teacher Recognition Day where we’ll be recognizing Readers become Leaders. That’s a partnership opportunity that we have with the NCAA when we encourage third graders to read and submit book reports and then those who have outperformed their peers are recognized at those games.
Family Night is game eight. That same Monday, but the night game, and kids can run the bases.
There’ll be mascots in the stadium. And other things that are kind of kid oriented. But, you know, there’s going to be something almost every game.
We salute the Heartland Heroes on game number 10. That’s in the evening on Tuesday and we’ll be saluting our partners in the medical field, police officers, those who are working in fire departments and thanking them for the services they provide. So there’s just going to be things fun things. There’ll be giveaways. There’ll be flyovers. So just check the schedule and keep tuned to local media.
Anything special for Father’s Day?
Father’s Day, which is also Juneteenth. There’ll be a recognition of Juneteenth. And in terms of Father’s Day, we always have something exciting going on aside from just inviting them. We’ve got things going throughout the day. We’ve got something special that I can’t tell you about that I think will be really heartwarming that’ll take place inside the stadium.
But that’ll be on that day. I’m so excited when we have Father’s Day as part of the event because whether or not there’s something special planned, you know from an activity, there’s so many memories that are made.
And we’re going to hit the 11 million fan milestone this year. Which you when think about that that’s essentially at least 11 million memories. Because it’s amazing, we’re kind of spoiled. We hit a milestone for millions every three years anymore. That’s pretty much what we’re on track to do. And it’s not as exciting when it’s not a year that doesn’t end at zero or five. But nevertheless, that’s a lot of folks that it took from 1947 to 1972 to reach the first 1 million fan milestone, one at a time. And now every three years we’re hitting that milestone, but it doesn’t take away from the memories. The numbers are one thing, but the memories are happening. Individually family by family, student athlete by student athlete, playing in our field of dreams.
Which reminds me did I say “Field of Dreams” was being played in the stadium this year?
No
We’re going have it talked about in opening ceremonies.
Opening Ceremonies, still free, still no ticket required, still have the team practices from nine to five, but what we don’t have this year is the autograph session. Hoping that comes back next year that has a lot to do with name image and likeness. Those activities that the student athletes are now compensated for their time in a situation like that. And since we don’t know when the teams are coming in, and each state handles that a little differently, each university seems to handle it differently. That’s kind of on the backburner for now, but kind of sort of filling that space the space between team practices and when we marched the teams in Olympic style in the evening. For the first time ever, there’s going to be a movie shown on the big screen at the ballpark and it will be Field of Dreams. So that’s part of all the free activities and then everybody can look forward to probably the first really big firework show of the year. Again, totally free.
Are those on the same day?
Yes.
Which day is that?
That’s Thursday. That would be June 16.
The opening ceremonies moved from Friday to Thursday. But a lot of the activities are the same march those teams in Olympic style showing the highlights of their season on the big screen. Have a few dignitaries welcome them to the stadium and then we’ll have that tremendous firework show.
What do you think you are hoping for the year you won’t be here?
Oh, I have no doubt this, the group that we have here both on our board of directors and our staff, but certainly in the city. And with the NCAA. I have no doubt that this is going to continue to get better every year. That’s the best kind of legacy you can leave is to know that the event is in good hands and will only improve even without your presence because the series is so much bigger than one person.
That’s the secret to good leadership too.
Ah, maybe so. We certainly have great leadership here coming up and also on our board and it’s all good a story.
What’s next for you?
Good question. We love to travel. We also have relatives who no longer are able to travel, so it’s going to be nice to spend more time with them. My dad for example, will turn 88 this weekend. And so we’re going to celebrate his birthday and I’m looking forward to spending more time with him.
My kids don’t live here… so be able to spend more time with them.
Thank you very much.
My pleasure.
I look forward to this every year.
Exactly. It’s a fun time for all of us. And for us. It can be a little exhausting. But it’s amazing. You start out thinking, oh my gosh, there’s a long hours, a lot of steps involved. And this seems to stretch out for a mile ahead of you and the next thing you know, you’re at last game thinking that went faster than I think anyone ever expected and it’s hard to believe it’s almost over, but here we are at the beginning. So I’m excited
Thank you.
Oh, thank you.
