Question for ASA...why South Dakota...or Midland, or Moline, or Bloomington......

[BB875]

DD#1 went to USSSA Rising Stars tourney in Ft. Lauderdale last fall. That was a sweet destination. However, I live 30 minutes from Moline, so I like the fact I can go watch some of the best ball games in the nation right in our backyard...

 

[3sDad]

I agree to an extent...and most cities don't know how to or actually do care to get a bid...but Moline?...Midland?...and now for us Montgomery?...Thats a rough town and if you don't know where to stay or more importantly where NOT to stay it can be a SERIOUS safety issue...know some locals who have told me where to AVOID...

USFA at PCB?...facilities are Ok, they could do better, but at least you have the Beach...St Andrews State Park is great!!!!!

What are you gonna do in Moline or Montgomery?...Premier Looking better and better...even USSSA with Disney is a better venue than the current ASA bid for the least desirable place in the USA to go...just happy Death valley doesn't have a softball complex

 

[MTR]

I agree to an extent...and most cities don't know how to or actually do care to get a bid...but Moline?...Midland?...and now for us Montgomery?...Thats a rough town and if you don't know where to stay or more importantly where NOT to stay it can be a SERIOUS safety issue...know some locals who have told me where to AVOID...

Yet when tournaments offer hotels, people get into a snit accusing them of getting kick-backs and payoffs, etc. I've been booking my own accommodations all over the country for years and have never had a problem separating the good neighborhoods from bad. It used to take a lot of leg work, but is relatively easy in today's world. BTW, I do not support the claims that teams "must" stay at one of the host's recommended hotels, but they may be an indication of where to stay.

So, the cities you mention shouldn't get a bid because they actually took the time and energy to get an event that helps their community? BTW, these cities also do a pretty damn good job at hosting these tournaments. Granted, Midland is hot and dry, but everything cannot be staged in the Garden of Eden.

I must say that sitting back and wanting Cities/Towns/Counties to submit bids seems a bit high and mighty....In today's world where the economy is what it has been for the past decade (yes I said decade not since 2008)

Then I guess you should include the NCAA and the IOC, Little League and probably quite a few other sports organizations in that group since that is how they determine many of their venues. As previously noted, there are tournaments that do not receive bids for which ASA does try to find a bid.

You are still an organization that derives it's existence from those who pay to be involved so it might be smart to consider being a little more proactive and determine where "you" want to be.

That is true and just how much do you think the expenses and fees for tournaments would rise if ASA becomes the shopper?

I live in a lower tax market outside of Atlanta and we have awesome access via the airport, car rentals, hotels, food options and more...And still in a rural setting. Our county
would consider it a privilege to host ASA Nationals and it would bring significant revenue to the community for us. I agree it is not so much for Atlanta itself but our community it would be.

So.....what are you waiting for? Contact your local government, get the CoC involved and see what you can accommodate. Most people just sit back and bitch because everything isn't just handed to them in a nice package with a ribbon. You admittedly are in a place which can accommodate and thrive from hosting something like this. There are plenty of models in your community, but then they would also be your competition. But what do you have to lose? Get a couple people involved, get a copy of the bid requirements and form from your commissioner and see if it can work for your community. At least, you are trying to do something other than sit back and wait for the next guy to pick up the ball.

 

[marriard]

So.....what are you waiting for? Contact your local government, get the CoC involved and see what you can accommodate. Most people just sit back and bitch because everything isn't just handed to them in a nice package with a ribbon. You admittedly are in a place which can accommodate and thrive from hosting something like this. There are plenty of models in your community, but then they would also be your competition. But what do you have to lose? Get a couple people involved, get a copy of the bid requirements and form from your commissioner and see if it can work for your community. At least, you are trying to do something other than sit back and wait for the next guy to pick up the ball.

The #1 response to what needs to happen. If you don't like something then do something about it yourself. There is clearly a process (and one that is not uncommon) for submitting a bid for a tournament so go out, get the people locally involved and put in a bid.

Frankly I am not all that impressed by any of the national tournaments. If you are looking for 'better' competition I am not sure why more teams don't just look at the previous years results from the various national tournaments and then find a tournament where a number of the top teams are playing in California or Florida or similar and go there. That way you don't have to go for a week or 10 days, you play a lot of softball and you do it in a place of your choice. There was a USSSA tournament in West Palm Beach two weeks ago where the 'A' bracket in 10U had 6 teams that were in the final 4 of either the ASA or USSSA nationals last year - and the other age group brackets were strong as well. A perfect spot for a team to play 6-8 games in 3 days and then take vacation either side of it.

Of course our teams are lucky being in Florida. As we get to play these teams regularly (and are starting to approach their level) we are not even interested in going to nationals this year in 10U. Why travel all that way to likely end up playing a couple of the teams that live less than an hour from us anyway.

 

[TheRogue]

The #1 response to what needs to happen. If you don't like something then do something about it yourself. There is clearly a process (and one that is not uncommon) for submitting a bid for a tournament so go out, get the people locally involved and put in a bid.

And there's the issue. What some of us are saying is that perhaps it's time to quit this model, and for the ASA organization to start actively pursuing the locations.

 

[HollowMan]

I live in a lower tax market outside of Atlanta and we have awesome access via the airport, car rentals, hotels, food options and more...And still in a rural setting. Our county would consider it a privilege to host ASA Nationals and it would bring significant revenue to the community for us.. I agree it is not so much for Atlanta itself but our community it would be.

As I recall 14U ASA Nationals were held in Marietta in 2009. Rain caused chaos, but that's Georgia in the summertime. I also think that 12U Nationals were there in 2003. At any rate, it's been there before. Ask them to step up and bid again.

 

[tmolina]

The top three A teams in 12u from AZ are all going to PGF nationals, as a matter of fact I don't even think enough teams signed up to play in the ASA 12u national qualifier that was scheduled to be played last week here in AZ. Quite a change from last year.

 

[JAD]

The top three A teams in 12u from AZ are all going to PGF nationals, as a matter of fact I don't even think enough teams signed up to play in the ASA 12u national qualifier that was scheduled to be played last week here in AZ. Quite a change from last year.

Some of the top teams in GA are also going to PGF nationals. It essentially costs the same to go to South Dakota or California......which one do you think the girls and parents would rather do?

 

[TheRogue]

You can go to South Dakota for 7+ days and play 4GG, or go to SoCal for 4+ days and play 4GG, and spend the other 3 days actually doing something fun!

 

[29dad]

TheRogue - I live in Sioux falls and agree with most of your comments. I can't do anything to change things but I'd be happy to buy you a beer if you make it here. So at least there's that.