Delaware is jockeying for the title "Little League Softball capital of the world."
After hosting the Senior League Softball World Series for 13-to-16-olds the last nine years, the Lower Sussex Little League complex will be home to a second tournament starting this year. The Big League Softball World Series for 14-to-18 year-olds will join the Senior League series in Roxana in 2013.
With the addition of the second tournament, World Series director Martin Donovan hopes people will see this as more than just a Sussex County event.
Officials discuss the benefits of an additional World Series Softball tournament.
Officials discuss the benefits of an additional World Series Softball tournament.
[flashvideo file=http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/softball.flv image="none"/]
"This is a statewide event," said Donovan. "It's our job to get the people up north to realize this event is here. We could become the Little League softball capital of the world. Little League [officals] don't like moving World Series. [The Big League World Series] was in Michigan for 19 years."
Delaware Economic Development Office Director Alan Levin estimates that hosting two tournaments will provide a major economic boost to Delaware tourism.
“The [Senior League] World Series they host today brings in $1.2 million to the area. This will more than double that amount and bring it up to two and a half million. But its not just that. It’s bringing people and getting them exposed to Sussex County and to Delaware,” said Levin.
State officials anticipate the two tournaments will attract 15 hundred visitors from up to 20 states and four countries to Delaware.
1500 people are expected to visit Delaware for the two tourneys. Officials say the state will also benefit from six of the two tournaments’ games being broadcast nationally by ESPN.
This year’s tournaments runs August 4th to August 10th and local teams will be involved. As tournament host, the local Delaware District Three teams receive an automatic berth into both the Big League World Series and Senior League Series.