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jmac83
46 Posts |
 Posted - 03/18/2012 : 09:16:34
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| If daily admission is going to be charged at your venues, you should disclose such on your Web site. Otherwise, we families assume attendance is free and feel sandbagged when we show up to find an admissions table. Whether the money is put to worthy use is not the issue; you need to be clear and up-front with people. |
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baseballdreams
18 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 14:24:14
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quote:
Originally posted by jmac83
If daily admission is going to be charged at your venues, you should disclose such on your Web site. Otherwise, we families assume attendance is free and feel sandbagged when we show up to find an admissions table. Whether the money is put to worthy use is not the issue; you need to be clear and up-front with people.
well said. |
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Fundamental_Coach
27 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 16:21:06
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and keep it consistent too.... We payed $5 at the gate for each adult and then heard that grandparents were charged $8!!! REALLY
The umps were terrible for the most part. They didn't even know the rules. They didn't check for illegal bats but they DID make the kids take off their phitens , why, you tell me. The fields were tiny and they had the younger kids pitching off flat mounds!
So my question is...Who's to blame, USSSA or the folks behind the tournament, or BOTH!
The Super Nit was a joke in my opinion. More of a money maker for someone than a tournament for the kids. |
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loveforthegame25
448 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 16:38:41
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| There aren't many big tournaments that are free admission |
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PBK84
204 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 16:39:35
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They were charging different prices at different parks Hidden Valley Park it was $8 and Heritage Park
is was $5 |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 19:39:44
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I don't know of any USSSA tourney that is free. But you are 100% correct, it should be prominently displayed on the website and every venue should have the pricing.
We had an umpire today in 11U that had the smallest strike zone I've ever seen. He was holding the pitchers to the standards for 15 year olds. Both teams just stood there with their bats in their shoulders and had a walk fest. Total waste of time.
HOWEVER, we DID have an umpire in the second game who checked every bat of every kid each time they came to the plate. It was very fast and did not delay the game at all. The kids walked up with the BPF stamp poiting towards the ump, showed him the stamp, took a practice swing and entered the box. Very well done by the ump! |
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Tribe
82 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 20:35:55
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Can anyone confirm that they were charging grandparents a higher entry fee than, well, "non"-grandparents?
If so, how were grandparents identified? Was someone at the gate questioning attendees who looked as if they could be grandparents?
I can't imagine that any legitimate organization would put itself in such obvious legal peril.
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Bigwhitevan
67 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 21:56:47
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| It was supposed to be 5 on Friday and 8 on saturday and sunday each per adult. I will say the 11u major was mostly well done. One mound was a little small but pitchers seemed pretty good with it. But to the orgaziners defense this is a HUGE tournament. Most Utrip tourneys have some type of fee, either team or gate fee. |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 22:18:22
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| 10AA At Gerald Matthews was $5.00 Friday and $8.00 On Sat and Sunday, Same as last year. People there were friendly, no problem there I know of with fees. |
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bharbin
19 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 09:38:20
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| The park in Conyers was actually (at times) charging sales tax on their over-priced concessions. I'm so sure they'll submit their revenue receipts along with tax they collected to the local IRS offices. |
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baseballnutz
427 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 09:42:15
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| I thought overall this tournament was much better run than years past. Also the umpires where head and shoulders improved from previous years IMO. |
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Memphis
86 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 09:57:41
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| I thought the tournament for 10U went well including the umpires did a good job at the parks in Monroe and Social Circle. |
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2132bball
4 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 10:17:15
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| I agree at least have a "weekend pass" option and maybe not charge $2.50 for a drink if you aren't allowing coolers...parents have no problem paying REASONABLE prices. Oh and can I just say that they bathrooms at Gerald Mathews were DISGUSTING! |
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BBall123
395 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 10:18:29
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The park in Monroe for 13u ; the field was exceptional, as were the umpire's, I think those 2 guys might be the best team of umpires i have seen, no sales tax, no bull crap with fees. I give that 2 thumbs up.
The park in conyers,,, completely opposite, They had one teen age boy in the concession stand on sunday BY HIMSELF, with a line going half way around the building, he's doing the best he can to serve everyone AND FIGURE TAX on every order,make change etc.
The umpires in our semifinal 13u majors game had to be in their 70's or 80's, , Without a doubt the WORST umpires I have seen. Had no business umpiring a game like that.They definately affected the outcome of that semi final game.
I give it 2 thumbs down. |
Edited by - BBall123 on 03/19/2012 10:47:32 |
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oldschooldad
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 11:34:12
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Why do you think so many teams choose not to play in the SNIT or USSSA events in general? Terrible traffic, terrible umpires, terrible fields, terrible conditions, and terrible over priced gate fees!!
JUst look at how Tony and TC have turned the Slugfest into a very well run event. Huge number of teams and MUCH better overall experience.
Two thumbs down to USSSA |
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jmac83
46 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 11:51:48
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| I had no problems at all with the quality of venues and umps, and even the concession prices and no-cooler policies. But, I don't understand why USSSA can't enforce a policy on tournament directors to the effect of: If you want to host an USSSA-affiliated tournament, you will disclose all tournament fees, gate fees, admission charges and cooler allowances at the same time you post the tournament notice. If you as an organizer fail to announce the costs, or do something sneaky like post a gate fee two days before the tournament, you can be put on probation or barred from hosting a tournament. Maybe there is such a policy now, but it doesn't seem to be enforced well. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 12:26:47
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AND, Johnson Park (Conyers) didn't need to worry about calculating sales tax on the Gatorade or Water sales Saturday afternoon. They RAN OUT!!! So not only could you not bring your own in, you couldn't get it there!!! Concessions at that park were certainly some of the worst I've seen in 10 years of doing this for my reason and all of BBall's previously stated.
quote:
Originally posted by BBall123
The park in Monroe for 13u ; the field was exceptional, as were the umpire's, I think those 2 guys might be the best team of umpires i have seen, no sales tax, no bull crap with fees. I give that 2 thumbs up.
The park in conyers,,, completely opposite, They had one teen age boy in the concession stand on sunday BY HIMSELF, with a line going half way around the building, he's doing the best he can to serve everyone AND FIGURE TAX on every order,make change etc.
The umpires in our semifinal 13u majors game had to be in their 70's or 80's, , Without a doubt the WORST umpires I have seen. Had no business umpiring a game like that.They definately affected the outcome of that semi final game.
I give it 2 thumbs down.
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Edited by - in_the_know on 03/19/2012 12:35:38 |
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Watrboy
21 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 13:34:44
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| The 8U fields were horrible. Not only were they too small for this age group, the Heritage Park field didn't have an operative scoreboard and third base wasn't secure because the base had a round peg stuffed into the square hole in the ground. The mounds were almost flat and the chalk lines were crooked. I saw a HR get called foul because the line wasn't straight. I'm very disappointed with price we paid to play and the fields were worn down. The $8 gate fee was too high. I get the fee, but wasn't $5 a head enough. I would've spent money at the concession stand then. I guess I'm spoiled with the North Ga Metro fields like East Cobb and others. My expectations must've been too high. |
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TOPDOG
92 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 13:53:30
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| overall we had a great time at mosely park. officials were great and scott carter was there the entire time to answer any questions. the problem i saw was kids on scooters. they were racing around everywhere and one child ran into the back of the legs of an elderly person and just crumbled him.i do not think the scooters should be allowed at the park,especially when most parks have playgrounds for the younger sibblings.jmo |
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Mookie
12 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 15:30:53
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1. Unless an official public park rule, I'll keep bringing in my small, personal cooler until someone at the check in gate is ready to stand up to a lengthy debate on the matter.
2. Gate fees should be published in advance, team gate fee is better, and is really just a pricing gimmick. Let's just lump it together and say the tourney costs $X. Just charge what you feel is needed but keep it simple.
3. ATL traffic stinks but does pushing start times back Friday night from 7 to 7:30 pm really help enough to justify pushing the late games even later? |
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wareagle
324 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 17:03:57
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| For what i spent this weekend, I could have watched the Braves from the front row directly behind home plate! But I still dont think it would have been as exciting! I didn't see any cars turning around when they found out how much the gate fee was, and until they do tournaments will continue to charge whatever consumers are willing to pay. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 20:03:20
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Papa has griped more about USSSA than all of you put together. I was charged $5 on Friday and $8 on both Saturday and Sunday. For a family of 4 this adds up to $84 bucks for the weekend. Has anyone heard of pricing yourself out of business.
I have never like USSSA but I will be the first to admit than since Bubba came on board that it's getting much better and I am more than willing to let his policies take hold and give him a chance. |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 21:24:34
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We have always played USSSA Tourneys and like most of the directors Bubba has on site. At the SNIT this w/e The only problem we had was with the plumbing at one of the parks we played at, And the county was there and fixed it. Every Game we played the on site director stopped by and asked how things were going and moved from field to field. When someone had a problem, I saw them addess it, and believe me I was there friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Everyone knows that USSSA and most tournament bodies always charge either a team fee or gate fee and if not the tourney is 100.00 to $200.00 more. I can only speak for the Gerald Matthews park directors, and North Ola parks, but they did fine with the one exception, but that was county and not them.
When you have 24 venues, 90 fields and staff and umpires from numerous states a couple of things will happen, and honestly I think Bubba and his staff did a great job with such an undertaking. |
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Linedrive11
91 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 10:34:54
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I agree with your post Mad1. Our on site director was Scott Carter and he did an outstanding job. We had one umpire that did not have experience with the 9U age group...and he became the focus of the game instead of the players... Other than that, it was great.
quote:
Originally posted by Mad1
We have always played USSSA Tourneys and like most of the directors Bubba has on site. At the SNIT this w/e The only problem we had was with the plumbing at one of the parks we played at, And the county was there and fixed it. Every Game we played the on site director stopped by and asked how things were going and moved from field to field. When someone had a problem, I saw them addess it, and believe me I was there friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Everyone knows that USSSA and most tournament bodies always charge either a team fee or gate fee and if not the tourney is 100.00 to $200.00 more. I can only speak for the Gerald Matthews park directors, and North Ola parks, but they did fine with the one exception, but that was county and not them.
When you have 24 venues, 90 fields and staff and umpires from numerous states a couple of things will happen, and honestly I think Bubba and his staff did a great job with such an undertaking.
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Edited by - Linedrive11 on 03/20/2012 11:15:08 |
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kaytrishjr
45 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 11:02:12
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| The fact that no gate fees were published on the website was the big problem for me. I remember last year, when they published the gates fees prior to the SNIT (I think it was $10 at first), everyone on this website started complaining and when U-trip saw the complaining, they lowered the fees to $7.00, I think. I also agree with everyone about explicitly outlining the rules regarding coolers and so on. I personally don't see what the problem is with the coolers, because me not being allowed to bring a cooler is NOT going to make me spend any more money at the concession stand that I hadn't already plan to spend! We just walk back to the car to eat and drink! |
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bestplayinbaseball
67 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 14:21:38
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| Like it ot not the economics of spending has changed in sports, for many families, not all but many. Our team opted for fewer tournies and more scrimmages and practices. Still plenty of ball, no price increase per player from last year. The powers that be will adapt or not and then so will their audience. |
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Hey, Super NIT organizers
