Got to see a NPF game this week in Kansas City. I enjoyed it, yet in many ways was disappointed.
The softball was excellent, but the overall experience ... Honestly, I was bored at times.
Too bad it was played on a minor league baseball field, but I understand that's the only way to support the crowd for that game. The WFC is being held here, lots of teams, and players got in free, etc. So nice crowd.
But, you were not up close with the players. They were ''off in the distance'' for lack of another way to put it. I guess I'm spoiled watching college games at UNC and NC State, where you're right on top of the action. Does the league play in better venues most of the time? I hope so. I didn't even mention the pitchers mound behind the pitching circle. They've got a league of their own, but sure wish they had more fields of their own.
Next complaint is that there was very little info on the players or the teams. The starting lineup is announced, and the players' photos are on a big board, but there was never any mention of where the players went to college. Batting fourth, Lauren Chamberlain. That's it. There was no roster or program that I could find anywhere. No stats. No standings. No interviews. No stories on the big board between innings. Nothing about the players when they came up to bat except their photo and name on the screen. I looked up rosters on my iPhone.
Is that typical at NPF games? So many star players with great stories, players from national championship teams, USA Team players, players who have set records, but they weren't being promoted.
I don't mean this post to bash the NPF. I've seen only 2 NPF games in my life in person, and the other was 4 years ago in a similar venue.
I'm just posting to get others' view of the league. Since I know many of the players, I can enjoy it, but I'd just as soon watch it on TV and not go watch it in person if it's typically like this.
What do you think?
The softball was excellent, but the overall experience ... Honestly, I was bored at times.
Too bad it was played on a minor league baseball field, but I understand that's the only way to support the crowd for that game. The WFC is being held here, lots of teams, and players got in free, etc. So nice crowd.
But, you were not up close with the players. They were ''off in the distance'' for lack of another way to put it. I guess I'm spoiled watching college games at UNC and NC State, where you're right on top of the action. Does the league play in better venues most of the time? I hope so. I didn't even mention the pitchers mound behind the pitching circle. They've got a league of their own, but sure wish they had more fields of their own.
Next complaint is that there was very little info on the players or the teams. The starting lineup is announced, and the players' photos are on a big board, but there was never any mention of where the players went to college. Batting fourth, Lauren Chamberlain. That's it. There was no roster or program that I could find anywhere. No stats. No standings. No interviews. No stories on the big board between innings. Nothing about the players when they came up to bat except their photo and name on the screen. I looked up rosters on my iPhone.
Is that typical at NPF games? So many star players with great stories, players from national championship teams, USA Team players, players who have set records, but they weren't being promoted.
I don't mean this post to bash the NPF. I've seen only 2 NPF games in my life in person, and the other was 4 years ago in a similar venue.
I'm just posting to get others' view of the league. Since I know many of the players, I can enjoy it, but I'd just as soon watch it on TV and not go watch it in person if it's typically like this.
What do you think?