As the city prepares for the tournament, Simeon said, “What we're doing is gathering all the information we can.”
That includes planning meetings with the Roanoke Rapids Youth Baseball Association and the Halifax Convention and Visitors Bureau. “As we gather the information will be looking at putting a plan of action together to include mutual departments within the city, tourism and the Roanoke Rapids Youth Baseball Association.”
What specifically the groups will be studying is the number of hotel rooms needed to support all the teams and those traveling with the teams.
While the exact number of people expected to come to the city has not been pinpointed, officials planning the tournament estimate there will be as many 15 players per team, their coaches and as many as four to five people coming to support each player.
The city will be required to have an opening ceremony to include all players, coaches and families and is looking into travel to and from the athletic complex.
The city is also exploring logistics of parking and tour busses coming to the facility. All the pre-planning, Simeon said, will lead to a large meeting between the city, youth baseball association and tourism to help the action plan come to fruition.
Meanwhile, preparation at Ledgerwood continues with construction of new restrooms and a concession stand. New bullpens are required and the existing backstop will be replaced with a brick wall and netting, which Simeon said is more for aesthetics but will also improve the line of sight for spectators.
Simeon said everything for the mid-July tournament should be in place before June.
Previous improvements made at Ledgerwood have all led to the city landing the tournament, Simeon said. “This speaks volumes of our facilities and our baseball organization and tourism to have the tournament come to Roanoke Rapids.”
