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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 66 anonymousDiscussion: Managers/Players around the Texas Region, what do you think about the Sportsplex in Houston?
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| Jan. 10, 2014 DoubleL3 Men's 65 3 posts | Managers/Players around the Texas Region, what do you think about the Sportsplex in Houston? I didn't like the location, seemed like a bad neighborhood with no place to stay, shop or eat, barbed wire fences all around the place; didn't like the entry gate Nazi's seaching my stuff and my person; didn't like the fields, seemed like youth baseball fields (short distance fences/high fences), the dugouts were about big enough for 8 grown adults, the seating is SO LOW it was rediculious, and the dugouts protruded into the field of play (if you weren't careful you would run into the 3rd base dugout if rounding third); and the grand stands were set up where you couldn't see the field of play. Surely Houston has some better complexes? |
| Jan. 11, 2014 TexasTransplant Men's 70 516 posts | It does not seem like a quality location. Dugouts and seating areas were exactly as you described. Fields were marginal at best. I find it strange that both major senior organizations decided to have their big Texas tournaments at this complex last year (and apparently again this year). I did not play in the SSUSA event there last year, but did play in the SPA tournament in August. I was playing 65's and we started on Thursday. The gate was not manned and they did not charge admission, at least for the older divisions. Maybe because the participation was so low that it wasn't worth paying someone to man the gate. I don't know what they did for the younger groups. Maybe SPA struck a different deal with the Sportsplex than did SSUSA. Even though I live in the DFW area, I enjoy going to Houston to play. I know there are better facilities. A tournament billed as the "Texas State Championship" deserves a better venue. To some extent we are like addicts; we all want to play every chance we get. But if we continue to patronize events held at marginal facilities like this one, we deserve what we get. |
| Jan. 12, 2014 Capt Kirk 541 posts | Our League San Antonio Senior Softball League had their annual banquet last night, good time had by all. I personally think SA would be a great location for the TX State Championship. We have two (2) facilities that would support the tournament, A four (4) field complex at Alva Jo Fisher would support the 65+, 70+, 75+, & 80+ teams (I know the fences are only 275'). The Kennedy Softball Complex, (4) fields, it would support the 40+, 50+, 55+, & 60+ teams. Probably would have to get the support from the Mayor's office since our Park and Rec folks don't seem to know that senior softball exists. Our senior games (softball event) are held at the Kennedy Softball Complex, it seems they have a connection with Park and Rec, maybe SSUSA or THCC should contact the senior game rep here in SA and figure out how to get some SSUSA sanctioned tournament here. Let's not about forget SPA, they could make an effort to host a sanctioned tournament here in SA. Capt |
| Jan. 12, 2014 BigDon44 Men's 55 1 posts | We played there last year in state and decided we would never go back... very cramped when you have a high number of teams there... what was posted about the conditions was spot on.. thought it was foolish you could not bring in a bottle of water at the checkpoint.. as a Texas team we try and play at all the Texas tourneys but this is one we will skip for both associations.. there are a lot better facilities in the state than this one. I think the reason they play there is cost and what facility will bring the most profit for them. Another huge factor is insurance.. many facilities do have an issue with the hotter senior bats or at least this is what I was told a few years back by a park director. In any case if the venue is changed to a better park whether that be in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Austin or wherever then we will be back. |
| Jan. 13, 2014 txnighttrain 119 posts | Our team is not going to play in the Texas State Championships if they leave it at the Houston Sportsplex. My players didn't like the fields, the area, or the spectator area. Our familes had to PAY to get into a rundown complex and parking was at a premium. Since SPA also decided to play there, it is unlikely we will play any of their tournaments this year. If you are going to have a championship tournament, then you need to play on fields that reflect that. The Rocky Mountain Championships in Aurora,CO had top quality fields and the entry fee was the same. I can't see why they can't do it in Texas. |
