The Senior League World Series at Bangor’s Mansfield Stadium was another success although the financial numbers may or may not bear that out.
And the final turned out to be a gem after it appeared as though the Texans were going to blow out the Californians.
Houston’s 9-7 victory over Fremont, Cal. had plenty of late-inning drama.
It’s always nice when the final lives up to expectations.
Watching the replay on ESPN a few weeks later was intriguing.
It’s always interesting to see a local venue displayed on national television.
And Mansfield Stadium held up well, particularly considering the amount of use it had received in the week leading up to the final.
That’s a credit to Ron St. Pierre, Jim Owens and the field maintenance crew.
The Senior League World Series is never going to pack the fans in, especially for the morning and early afternoon games.
We simply don’t have the population and people are understandably reluctant to give up a beautiful day during the waning stages of summer to watch baseball.
They would rather be at their camps or at a beach somewhere.
The staff has done an exemplary job setting up the big video game screen for the youngsters in the tent next to the stadium and providing a nice makeshift cafeteria as well as having other picnic tables available for the fans to eat.
There may not be a press box, but the media is well-serviced with box scores and postgame press conferences.
The one suggestion I would have would be to have promotions during the games like you see at minor league games.
Mascot races, shooting food into the stands, having a variety of between-innings contests like the independent league Blue Ox used to and giveaways always add to the atmosphere at a sporting event.
Having local bands play during a game and putting on a concert after a day of games would be nice although I’m sure you’d have to get that approved by the local residents who value their sleep.
I realize any promotion requires money and that is in short supply these days.
But maybe sponsors would chip in to make it possible.
Having a large video scoreboard so you could show film clips during games would be cost prohibitive but you can always dream.
However, I think it’s time to take the plunge.
It’s time to hold the American Folk Festival on the same weekend!!!!
Why not?
It is less than two miles from Mansfield Stadium to the waterfront where the other great event of the summer is held: the American Folk Festival.
Would it hurt SLWS attendance?
How do you know if you don’t try it? Aren’t most of the fans at each game the players’ families and friends?
You could run shuttle busses between Mansfield and the waterfront.
You would be introducing people from all over the globe to a unique music festival and that may entice them to return in future years.
Maybe you could talk a few of the acts at the folk festival to perform at the SLWS.
Just think of the economical potential.
Hollywood Slots and the local hotels and restaurants would flourish. So would other businesses.
Obviously, the folk festival organizers would have to wait to learn the dates of the SLWS to lay out their dates.
Don’t you think it’s at least worth a try?
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