The Evanston Baseball and Softball Association will host a travel baseball tournament at James Park next month that’s expected to bring 2,000 people to town to watch some 500 youngsters on 40 teams play during the three-day event.
The Stars and Stripes Tournament runs from July 6 to 8 and is expected to draw teams of 9 to 13 year-olds from across the Chicago region.
The tournament is being organized with assistance from The Strike Zone, a baseball and softball academy located in Glenview. EBSA’s travel teams, the Orange Cats, will have four teams participating in the tournament.
“We are very excited about this tournament which, in addition to being a lot of fun for the players, can also generate revenue for Evanston businesses,” said EBSA President David Campbell.
Campbell says the association hopes to turn the tournament into an annual event.
The tournament will have five divisions, one for each age group, and will include about 135 games over the three days with the semi-finals and championship games for each division being held on July
8.
“We have a lot of experience organizing tournaments of this size and we are pleased to partner with EBSA for this annual event,” said John Fix, The Strike Zone’s president.
The volunteer-run, non-profit EBSA has operated in Evanston for over 60 years.
Youth sports creates economic development
Wow, this is great!!!!! All these family will come to spend money in Evanston. What a great way to showcase James Park and Evanston. I would think that Anne Rainey's proposed bar on Howard Street will need years before it attracts that many people come from outside Evanston to spend money.
Oakton St. Traffic
Oakton St. Traffic Implications?
The tournament sounds like a great event! Kudo's to the organizers, and thanks in advance to them for their hard work!
Wondering what the traffic and parking plans are for the tournament?
Onoing, we truly need a Northwest entrance to James Park! This could potentially reduce the daily gridlock and road rage on Oakton!
For example, an entrance could be created off of Oakton to the west side fo James Park (i.e. somewhere east of the new GFS store, or adjacent to the old recycling center.) It's surprising a park of this size has only one entrance/exit, and that the parking lot is so small, and in such poor condition.
A light could also be associated with a new entrance, to allow for both safe pedestrain crossing of Oakton, as well as reduce speeding.
Understand our current City budget woes, but would be interested to hear the City's traffic circulation plans for James Park.
Good luck to the baseball tournament! I'll remember to stay well clear of Oakton while it's going on!