| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
 Posted - 01/30/2014 : 12:40:10
|
| With the new Lake Pointe going into operation this summer will it pull a lot of the top talent from most of all the other programs? Will it pull the top coaches, directors, and staff to help accommodate this mega facility? There billing this as probably the biggest facility on the East Coast. With Perfect Game head quartering there and likes of Bobby Cox and company will this facility draw talent from the whole East Coast? Are coaches, players and facilitators already getting the "call"? What will happen with most of these other top programs when everybody starts getting the call? Anybody have any input? |
|
|
Bob Balker
456 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2014 : 16:17:15
|
| I was by there on Monday this week. This is going to be an unbelievable venue for all athletics. I cannot wait for it to open. That being said, I would be amazed if this facility is open and ready for baseball this summer. Again there has been a lot of progress made over the last 6 months but it appears there is a ways to go. Just a guess but this fall seems like a better estimate. I hope I am wrong. |
 |
|
|
Card6
152 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2014 : 07:38:17
|
| I talked with PG. They will only put on tournaments no teams at this time. |
Edited by - Card6 on 02/02/2014 08:25:26 |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2014 : 08:56:29
|
With 16 Major league sized fields and 12 youth sized fields it will take a small army to take care of just these fields. That's 56 teams playing at one time slot. I guess driving to 10+ different High Schools won't happen at this place?
Hopefully, with all these different choices for baseball teams and training it will make it better for the consumer? More competition can only help drive down the quickly rising costs of joining a team or training for baseball? Time will tell. |
|
|
|
Mets69
70 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2014 : 10:43:51
|
| How much will this new facility hurt the revenues of local high school teams, many of which depend on the income generated from hosting PG events? Player fees at our local high school are already in the range of $500, with each player required to match that amount in sponsorships and fundraising activities. The unintended consequence of the Lake Pointe facility might be significant increases in high school player fees. |
|
|
|
crzdirector
48 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2014 : 19:16:11
|
| I wonder when someone is going to build one of these things over on the other side of the state? |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2014 : 09:40:31
|
quote:
Originally posted by crzdirector
I wonder when someone is going to build one of these things over on the other side of the state?
You may not realize the magnitude of this facility and purpose. It isn't merely a complex of a bunch of baseball fields. This will be one of the premier sporting locations in the nation, and to some degree, the world. There is a host of supporting infrastructure (shopping, lodging, entertainment) that are partnering with this. It isn't limited to baseball. There will be more than 20 different sports hosted, including soccer, lacrosse, golf, volleyball, wake boarding (cable tows), etc., etc. There will be more than 25 hotels and 30 restaurants on-site, plus shopping (Bass Pro, etc), one of the tallest roller coasters in the US (Polercoaster).
There will be sports science partners (Coca-Cola hydration lab, Sports Turf, Dr. Jame Andrews Orthopedics research).
Also planned are bowling and movie theater.
And, of course, Perfect Game moving their base of operations from Iowa to LakePoint.
This won't be something that someone can prop up on the other side of the state to compete. This is like Disney for sports.
If you haven't read up on their website, you really should. It is really much more than baseball and will provide year round jobs with a large economic impact year-round. |
|
|
|
jmac83
46 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2014 : 14:46:23
|
| I'm very excited that my son will get a chance to play in some ballgames at this complex before too long. Nonetheless, I'll go out on a limb and confidently predict you will never see anything close to that level of hotel or restaurant development on the property, nor facilities for that many sports. Like any intelligent business, the Lake Pointe operators are not going to invest in advance of demand in the recreation and tourism industry. |
Edited by - jmac83 on 02/04/2014 15:11:27 |
|
|
|
Slider5
43 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2014 : 15:55:42
|
| As mentioned before, you should go to their site. Braveheart Sports (soccer-NASA & Lacrosse-LB3) has already committed as well as one of the largest tennis associations in the South. Bass Pro has already bought the land and construction should begin soon. Greg Norman has committed to designing and building a 9 hole course there as well as a golf academy. The Miracle League is also relocating there. So it is going to be big. It may not be that big during the 1st phase but it will get there. Also, Shaw Sportexe will move its corporate headquarters there as well and will be providing all the turf for the fields. |
|
|
|
agent21
97 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 00:34:11
|
| Distance from the airport and the nearest population center could potentially impact how quickly this place takes off. Seems to me most Atlanta area families are not going to drive all the way out to this place on any type of regular basis and out of town visitors will be limited to spring/summer breaks. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. |
|
|
|
CoachMark
216 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 08:08:39
|
I have no affiliation with LakePointe of Perfect Game but here are my guesses to clear up some common misconceptions on LakePointe.
1. LakePointe will not have teams like East Cobb. It is a sports & entertainment complex, not a travel team organization. Think along the lines of Disney's Wide World of Sports. Disney doesn't have travel teams. LakePointe is not likely to either.
2. Perfect Game does not own the fields at LakePointe. PG is re-locating to Atlanta/Emerson from Iowa, but they only have the first right of refusal for the LakePointe fields. PG currently hosts tournaments mostly for 15u - 18u but in recent years has seen that age move down to 14u and even a few 13u tournaments. With the smaller fields being built at Lakepointe, I would expect PG to fill them up with either Softball (more likely), lower age groups or both.
3. PG will not affect HS revenue or ECB revenue much. There will be 8 fields at LP this Summer at most. Long term calls for 16 fields. The PG Summer tournaments have close to 300 teams and play on 48 fields. PG wants to make money. The more fields they play on, the more money they make. I would expect the number of teams to expand vs the number of HS fields to contract.
4. PG travel season starts when HS baseball ends which is May in the South and June for most of the rest of the country. How the fields get used from Jan-May will be interesting. This is where EC could be hurt. An organization like Triple Crown (TC) could likely run all of their Spring tournaments entirely at LakePointe instead of at ECB + a dozen other fields in N Metro ATL. IF PG decides to host 8u - 14u events during this time, it will set up an interesting battle between PG and TC/ECB. Either way, ECB will likely lose some Spring tournament revenue.
5. LakePointe will not only be the biggest baseball place on the East Coast, it will be the largest Youth Sports Complex in the World. It will be huge for the economy in Cobb, Cherokee, Bartow, Paulding, Polk, Floyd counties. Look for the Paulding Co airport to expand, hotels to pop-up, and other youth sports organizations to re-locate. |
|
|
|
ABC_Baseball
90 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 08:40:10
|
| Card6 already mentioned it, this just looks like a giant facility. I have not read anything about a baseball academy being opened up. Of course Perfect Game events will be there. I'm sure a lot of tournaments will be there too. As a parent of a young baseball player, I'm glad that we will get a chance to experience the place. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 09:44:00
|
| I can't imagine a for PROFIT mega facility of this magnitude not putting there hands in the team forming pie. I can see it now LPB Lake pointe baseball. There's no reason not too have teams and dip into the revenues created from them. It may not be right away but it will happen. |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 11:37:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by agent21
Distance from the airport and the nearest population center could potentially impact how quickly this place takes off. Seems to me most Atlanta area families are not going to drive all the way out to this place on any type of regular basis and out of town visitors will be limited to spring/summer breaks. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
I can only assume that you don't have HS aged players yet. Check out the Perfect Game website and where the teams are coming from to participate in their events that are hosted in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, California, etc., etc. They attract high school players to these events from all over north and south America. Many of these events are held during week days while school is in session (August through December) and top talent/prospects will miss school to attend these recruiting events. Not only will Atlanta area families "drive all the way over to this place on any type of regular basis", they'll flock to it from all over the US. Look at the Georgia teams that spend 2-3 weeks of their summer in Fort Myers that are ecstatic that we can travel to Emerson, GA now (count me in that group).
Within the younger age groups, this location will be every bit as popular and packed as any tournaments hosted at East Cobb.
The real question is whether this type of facility can sustain at the high standard that they're setting for themselves. They have some strong business minds and corporate sponsorship behind it now, but will the long term revenue sustain it. In the end, separate our emotion as parents and sports enthusiasts from it and consider the business bottom line. That's what will determine it's long term viability. As CoachMark mentioned, the partners are "tenants" here and will make business decisions when their leases are up. Some tenants may come and go, but will LakePoint sustain I also think that some HS revenue will be affected, likely not ECB, however. I suspect with artificial turf fields and the technology being built in to these fields (hydraulics, irrigation, etc), lights, etc., that far more games slots will be available here per a given time window (fewer/shorter weather delays, etc). I also believe that as fewer HS fields are needed, those furthest from the complex will be the first to be dropped. So Cobb, Bartow, Paulding should remain the preferred spillover locations. Likewise, ECB, with only 3 fields to contribute and the 4th at Kell in close proximity would remain in that rotation. ECB is about 30 minutes drive from LakePoint and I doubt that the PG/ECB relationship would be overly impacted. Likewise for Aviation which is a straight shot up and down I-75 between the locations.
Also, a location like this may provide fields for organizations such as Nelson Baseball, etc., that are in the general Cobb area to possibly set their base of operations by leasing facilities. Would likely drive their costs up. Likewise, organizations like Titans Baseball who just separated into their own facilities. |
|
|
|
CoachMark
216 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 14:36:49
|
LakePointe is owned and operated primarily by Real Estate people, not baseball people. Cox may be an investor, but he's not involved with the operations. I agree with in_the_know that you may see some academies lease their facilities when available, but LakePointe itself is interested in developing land. Running sports teams is very low margin comparatively and not what their investors will want them focused on. I suppose somebody could start a LakePointe academy but it won't be affiliated.
PG signed a long-term deal with ECB to continue to use their facilities so they are definitely in the rotation. What will change is ECBs ability to control the PG tournament schedule to the affect that they do today. I see ECB teams playing at ECB just like 643 teams play at Aviation. But I don't see ECB getting the favorable match-ups much longer. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 15:48:38
|
| For all the BIG businesses to commit I'm sure they will need this place full of family's spending money DAILY not when it warms up or on the weekend or when venues are scheduled. I'm sure they spent millions on analisis of this business plan to show DAILY profit for all businesses to sign on and build huge stand alone businesses. The way I see them getting that many families there daily is team practice. So if you have every competitive athlete of EVERY sport coming 2-3 times a week it will THRIVE. Time will tell. Yes, I do see ECB & others getting first dibs on spill over. |
Edited by - Gwinnett on 02/05/2014 16:13:43 |
|
|
|
BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2014 : 19:21:49
|
| Gwinnett I agree they will want more activity than just warm weekends, but what you fail to consider is that baseball is not the only sport there. Lacrosse and Soccer play extended seasons, not just when it is warm and dry, They will also have tennis, which is played nearly year round in this area. With the shopping and multitude of sports, there is no doubt to me that it will be bustling with activity nearly all year long. |
|
|
|
MacDaddy
3 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2014 : 14:50:44
|
| Complementary entertainment venues, bars, restaurants and hotels will grow along 75 between the new Braves stadium and Cartersville. Budweiser owns additional property by their plant for the Georgia version of "Busch Gardens". There will be year-round entertainment to keep people busy when they are not at their one game at day at Lakesport. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2014 : 11:08:59
|
Mom6, I believe I didn't fail to consider that baseball is not only sport there when I said -
"So if you have every competitive athlete of EVERY sport coming 2-3 times a week it will THRIVE."
Honestly, I believe most families will plan a lot of there spending around these practices and events. Going out to eat, shopping while kids at practice, entertaining siblings while other child is practicing, professional instruction before or after practice, injury therapy or doctor visit before or after practice, getting your nails done while practice is going on, treating yourself to the spa while your kid is practicing, buying sporting equipment, driving your boat to practice, the list goes on and on and on. I believe this is why it will THRIVE DAILY. Time will tell?
quote:
Originally posted by BaseballMom6
Gwinnett I agree they will want more activity than just warm weekends, but what you fail to consider is that baseball is not the only sport there. Lacrosse and Soccer play extended seasons, not just when it is warm and dry, They will also have tennis, which is played nearly year round in this area. With the shopping and multitude of sports, there is no doubt to me that it will be bustling with activity nearly all year long.
|
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2014 : 13:02:11
|
| We haven't even talked about how they will attract the best talent in the country? They will have ALL the top sporting manufacturers (nike, easton, Rawlings, Mizuno and the list goes on) literally fighting to throw sponsership money towards teams. I see the top 3-4 teams of every sport FULLY sponsored (free equipment, free professional instruction, free team fees, etc.). This is how I believe they will attract the best talent in the country. How can any other top baseball academy (for profit) compete with that? It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out. Any thoughts? |
Edited by - Gwinnett on 02/13/2014 13:17:44 |
|
|
|
CoachMark
216 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2014 : 09:18:24
|
Gwinnett - hopefully this article posted by SirLurker in another thread give you a better idea to the motives behind the developers at LakePointe.
http://johndruckenmiller.com/huge-year-under-way-for-lakepoint-with-plans-now-covering-40-sports-expanded-sportshealth-compenent-year-round-operations/
Perhaps one of the big baseball manufacturers will use LakePointe as a base to run teams like you suggest, or perhaps you know something that others here don't, but I still believe the LakePointe owners have no desire to try to run a baseball organization. Marketing a complex for 40 different sports will keep them busy enough than to try to break into the low-margin world of travel baseball. I believe the threats to East Cobb will continue to come from the other organizations on this side of town that are becoming very successful like 643 DP, Team GA, Demarini, Nelson, Titan Baseball, etc. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2014 : 14:49:47
|
I believe what they desire to do is run a successful business year round. That will take a lot of people coming daily. I think we all know developers aren't in the team making business. In my thread I've never referred to just baseball - I referred to all sports. I know I'm not the only one that's seen samples of team logos?
On the other hand this place could be a flop that know ones interested in driving to. Time will tell?
quote:
Originally posted by CoachMark
Gwinnett - hopefully this article posted by SirLurker in another thread give you a better idea to the motives behind the developers at LakePointe.
http://johndruckenmiller.com/huge-year-under-way-for-lakepoint-with-plans-now-covering-40-sports-expanded-sportshealth-compenent-year-round-operations/
Perhaps one of the big baseball manufacturers will use LakePointe as a base to run teams like you suggest, or perhaps you know something that others here don't, but I still believe the LakePointe owners have no desire to try to run a baseball organization. Marketing a complex for 40 different sports will keep them busy enough than to try to break into the low-margin world of travel baseball. I believe the threats to East Cobb will continue to come from the other organizations on this side of town that are becoming very successful like 643 DP, Team GA, Demarini, Nelson, Titan Baseball, etc.
|
|
|
|
turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2014 : 10:22:28
|
| As Gwinnett stated... Developers and those investors want people at the park DAILY and year round. I couldn't imagine a facility such as this NOT being the home of travel teams (soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, etc). I doubt it will be 'ran' by LakePointe, but like some many other organizations, I'm sure the discussion will go something like this, "Oh, you want to practice on our fields 2-3 times a week, and you'll pay us $1,200 +/- a 'season' to do so? And this would generate possibly xyz in additional revenue, all for using our fields, when nothing else is scheduled, and calling yourself the 'LakePointe Lookouts'? Where do we sign? And how many MORE teams can we sign up?" |
Edited by - turntwo on 03/17/2014 10:26:45 |
|
|
|
gtown71
86 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2014 : 16:30:49
|
| the only way they can compare to east cobb is if the scoreboards don't work and they are missing half of the urinals. |
|
|
|
bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2014 : 17:56:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by gtown71
the only way they can compare to east cobb is if the scoreboards don't work and they are missing half of the urinals.
 |
Edited by - bballman on 04/01/2014 18:39:58 |
|
|
|
HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2014 : 12:50:54
|
| Are the bigger fields over 300 going to be grass or turf or both? |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Will Lake Pointe be the new East Cobb?
