Rochester, New York is jumping on the bandwagon. Sandusky, Ohio won’t be left out. Rantoul, Illinois is making its own big statement 메이저사이트. What do these communities have in accordance? They’ve all joined the growing trend over the U.S. of fabricating multimillion-dollar youth sports complexes that will aid expansive communities, attract major travel tournaments and teams, and make lots of cash for area businesses. It’s official. Sandlot ball went Big Business.
That won’t be a revelation to any parent whose children have participated in youth sports at any level, especially the travel team level. Costs of equipment, trainers, team “tuitions” and travel expenses can simply reach well in to the thousands each year for every single child. These mega youth sports complexes are just the latest craze in this crazy, commercialized world of youth sports.
We’ve come a long way since Joe Tomlin found an empty lot in Philadelphia to begin his Pop Warner youth football program in 1929, to be able to keep young children from vandalizing local businesses. And what might Carl Stotz consider today’s youth sports industry? It’s a much cry from the humble origins of his first Little League games created in 1938 on sandlot baseball fields around Williamsport, PA.
The City of Rochester spent $2.1 million (through a mixture of public and private funding) on the indoor sports complex that’ll house multi-purpose courts and turf fields, a weight room, locker rooms. Their mayor welcomed the 2020 development project by saying that Rochester youth sports teams would are in possession of “usage of exactly the same year-round training opportunities, scrimmages, practice sessions,” and sports medicine professionals as their suburban counterparts. (Oh goody. More “year-round training” for children; precisely what the experts warn against.)
The folks in Rantoul, Illinois have a more impressive vision than that. They are about to break ground on a $20 million sports complex aimed to attract people from all over the Midwest. Their plan requires a 60-plus acre facility that’ll include eight multi-sport turf fields and eight turf baseball and softball diamonds. Rantoul officials believe the complex can attract massive youth sports tournaments and thereby drive economic development in the area, including restaurants, hotels and retail. Their mayor said he believed this complex “could be the economic engine that could take Rantoul in to the future.” Wow. Who knew just how much was riding on our little pee wee athletes’ shoulders?
Sandusky, Ohio goes even further. In January they’ll open their new $32 million indoor Cedar Point Sports Center with enough room for 10 full-sized basketball courts, or 20 volleyball courts. It will complement their outdoor Sports Force Parks located nearby, which opened in 2017 and houses 10 multi-sport turf fields. And to local officials, it fits nicely with their famous Cedar Point Amusement Park, especially while they aim to attract more visitors – and business – to the area throughout the colder off-season months. They appear poised to be correct. In February the newest indoor facility will host its first volleyball tournament, with 130 teams participating. That should give local restaurants, hotels and gas stations a wonderful head start for the year.
In accordance with Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, youth sports complexes are being developed at a rapid pace, with over $550 million dedicated to such projects just within the last few three years. Apparently our kids’ sports are not only driving us crazy, they are also driving the economies of local communities all over the U.S. So prepare yourself going to the trail, with even more tournament destinations at your disposal. And don’t complain. In the end, you did sign your kid up for a travel team.