Comments by Doc_Fungo
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Posted on October 26 at 10:42 a.m.
I believe you'd be more successful in drawing teams by expanding Duncan Park than building an aluminum and asphalt facility in the middle of a bean field. Everybody has those types of complexes.
The uniqueness of Duncan Park (trees, shade, rural old-time baseball environment) would be a much more logical draw for teams.
How many samll town travel teams are there within an hour of Natchez? How many tournaments will they play in? Since they're within a short distance, what would the benefit be to hotels? You want them to spend money at the concession stand, what benefit is that to restaurants?
If you're trying to sell this idea as a huge economic impact...there are many, many, questions and issues to consider. There isn't a plan on paper at the moment which makes this an intriguing subject to ponder.
The biggest fear is the fear of building a multi-million dollar facility and you can't get enough teams to participate in your tournaments. What is your recourse if that happens?
All the optimism in the world isn't enough to make teams show come to Natchez. You need something different that otehr facilities don't offer and/or can't replicate.
I personally believe Duncan Park has the potential to be the difference maker. Forget a bean field. Everybody has those. If you build in a field, odds are you're not going to be happy with the outcome.
Quit using that Field of Dreams quote. That was a line in a movie. If you believe that I'm sure you believe a giant monkey climbed to the top of a building in New York a while back.
With all this optimism I've been hearing on the radio and in the ND. Make it happen in Duncan Park. It is your best shot
Posted on October 26 at 8:45 a.m.
I'm not sure if a comparison with Muscle Shoals is a good one.
One of the most important factors in the success to these types of facilities is logistics. In layman's terms...how close is the facility to populous areas. Especially those with a lot of travel teams.
Muscle Shoals is in the middle between a large number of populous areas.
Huntsville, AL 68 miles
Birmingham, LA 113 miles
Nashville, TN 125 miles
Memphis, TN 151 miles
Chattanooga, TN 169 miles
Each of the cities is closer than New Orleans is from Natchez. (New Orleans teams are not well known for travelling to tournaments)
This leaves Jackson & Baton Rouge as the major populous areas for Natchez to draw from. Each have many facilities much closer to choose from.
There are approximately 20 facilites that host tournaments within an hour from Baton Rouge. Eight within 15 miles. Every weekend these Facilities struggle to fill tournaments and most cancel age divisions and/or their tournament due to lack of teams because of the competition of hosting tournaments among these facilities.
Vidalia gets first crack at this and they'll be in direct competition with Natchez for the travelling teams.
Good luck!
Posted on October 21 at 8:43 a.m.
I nominate Sally Durkin to represent the women's point of view on the recreation committee.
Posted on September 27 at 7:49 p.m.
Oh...don't we all wish for the return of the days of conflict about the size of signs was the biggest issue...
BWAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on August 5 at 6:48 a.m.
"Fortunato"
Posted on July 22 at 1:09 p.m.
Don't DARE look at BREC in Baton Rouge in order to make a decision. This is apples & oranges...
BREC has DEEP pockets to overcome revenue shortages at this facility (tax dollars). Plus, BREC isn't in the tournament business. This is sub-contracted and the outfits doing this in the past have left BREC in the hole. They have ONE facility that hosts tournaments and they struggle most of the time to have enough teams in each division.
Anybody that mentions BREC and tournaments does not have enough details in order to make a informed decision.
Posted on July 22 at 1:01 p.m.
That is Oak Villa and is a "skinned" softball field complex. There isn't a waiting list! This is the only "nice/new" BREC ballpark facility. Oak Villa has been around for 6 years, So...I guess that falls under "New" to some people.
This is some gal blowing smoke. BREC doesn't turn down ANY kids or teams. Plus, the "League" teams BREC runs are T'Ball, Coach-Pitch, and softball. The baseball teams that compete in late summer are STRICTLY recreational and barely that. They may field 30 teams that are spread out all over town and play at the neighborhood parks.
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Posted on October 26 at 2:10 p.m.
Heck...look at all the non-baseball ones you live with now...
Yep...go ahead and build it in that bean field and in 10 years it'll look like Arlington...
On For one town, recreation is more than a field of dreams