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Online now: 2 members: Scooty350z15, TABLE SETTER 11; 94 anonymousDiscussion: SPRING WORLDS FIELD CHANGES
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| March 14, 2010 SCRAPPY6 55 posts | SPRING WORLDS FIELD CHANGES Up until last week the 60's aaa were listed as playing in Mesquite. We now have found out that we are playing all our games in St. George. What happened SSUSA? Our players have room reservations in Mesquite because you told us we were playing there. It is too late to change now and you have added an extra 45-50 minutes drive time each way and the extra fuel expense. Tentative field assignments should be more accurate. Why publish them at all? What is going to happen in Reno? Maybe we will get moved to Carson City at the last minute. We spend a lot of money on these tournaments and thanks to you we now have to spend more and also extra driving time. If we knew ahead of time we could have gotten rooms in St George. Thanks for the inconvenience and added expense. You wonder why team participation is down, or not growing, and this is one reason. Scrappy 6 - Mike |
| March 14, 2010 Have Bat Will Travel Men's 75 20 posts | SCRAPPY6 my sentiments exactly. I have lost two players for this tournament because of the field changes. We pay enough for the tournament and now we either change our hotels to St George (the cost is more than double) or drive and extra 250 miles to commute for three days to Snow Canyon. We may have to drop out if I can't locate a player or two too help us out. |
| March 14, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Just tell me who's ass has to be kissed to play in Mesquite? Same thing happened last year. If this schedule holds true, there will be 15 rooms available at the Casa Blanca. |
| March 14, 2010 DaveDowell Men's 70 4316 posts | Let's start with a verbatim quote of the Priority Message Board Item posted here on February 24th (the emphasis included is identical as in the original post): __________ SPRING WORLD'S • MESQUITE • TENTATIVE Field Assignments The following field assignments for the 2010 Spring World Championships in Mesquite, NV, and St. George, UT, are TENTATIVE only, and subject to change depending on the number of teams entering the event. (The entry deadline is 03/09/2010) Updated information will be posted here whenever available. __________ And let's follow up with one of the various 'official' definitions of the word TENTATIVE (which was used twice in that post): __________ ten·ta·tive adj. 1. Not fully worked out, concluded, or agreed on; provisional: tentative plans. 2. Uncertain; hesitant. __________ As for the field locations for the Spring Worlds: • Prior to any major event, the SSUSA office typically receives 100's (that's not an exaggeration) of phone calls asking "Where are we going to be playing?" These calls begin weeks (and in some cases months) prior to the official entry cut-off date. Those calls are asking an unanswerable question, which is why the wording of the message board post is so carefully constructed. • The Staff does the very best they can at estimating the number of entries in each age group and division therein, without any real basis in fact prior to that entry deadline. Fortunately, the total number of teams this year (102) is very similar to last year (101). But the 'mix' was different, negating some of the assumptions. We were able to overcome all but one of those (affecting the five-team 60-AAA). • The scheduling personnel try to fit those 'soft' estimates of the number of teams into the number of available complexes and fields and the required games to 'make it fit' without resorting to unconventional formats or extremely late play. • This year it appears the estimates were very accurate. Of the 21 separate divisions of play in the year's Spring Worlds, 20 of them will be playing where "tentatively" projected. In softball terms, that's equivalent to batting .952, which is normally acceptable for most Managers. Suggestions: • Retain your hotel reservations in Mesquite because they are about one-half of the best rates negotiated in St. George; • Enjoy the absolutely gorgeous drive from Mesquite to The Canyons Complex through some of the most beautiful landscape found in America; • Enjoy playing on natural grass and dirt fields that are among the handful of America's Best according to anyone who has played there; and • Feel free to follow me on the drive daily as I travel from my Mesquite accommodations to St. George to serve as your Field Director. In my view, staying in Mesquite and working/playing in St. George is the best of both worlds. Good luck everyone! |
| March 15, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | dave you make it sound rosey to drive the 45 miles one way,not that rosey traveling that canyon road(it being a little like a pikes peak climb).its another 2 hrs(1 each way)you have to figure in for your day that you could be doing something else.if you have a 2-3 hr break between games,there is no going back to your room for a bit. now for the ballers,try www.priceline.com and do the bid your own price(do it for around $30-35) and you should be able to find something.hopefully the mesquites hotels will let ya cancel. |
| March 15, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Nothing like having trying to make your lodging reservations a just week or so before or not being able to plan WELL in advance like most want. 40 mile plus difference means a lot. |
| March 15, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Staff (Dave), I'm quite sure most of us understand the meaning of most words including Tentative. I cant speak for anyone but myself and what I know to be true, we were told if we were moved last year, we would not be moved again this year. Well we have been moved again. |
| March 15, 2010 DaveDowell Men's 70 4316 posts | mad dog - We were very aware of the potetial down-time issue you raise, and here's the way it played out in scheduling the 60-AAA Division to minimize that impact ... • Friday starts at 11:00 AM and NOBODY has more than a one-game break between games • Saturday begins at 9:00 AM and the loser of bracket Game #1 has a two game break before their next (and only other) game of the day in the Elimination Bracket. NOBODY else has longer than a one game break under any circumstance, and the day's play concludes after the 1:30 PM games. • Sunday is like any other Sunday. Think: Sand-lot ball, and you can keep the field/dugout as long as you win! The longest break any team would have is ONE game. We don't like having to move divisions around after the "TENTATIVE" assignments are made. But it's the nature of the beast when we're trying to balance the demands of the membership for (well in) advance certainty before enough relevant facts are known. Several teams actually booked in both locations under a sufficient cancellation policy to allow them to close out one set of reservations without economic risk. For future reference, that's a very smart way to 'cover the bases'. The drive from Mesquite is as you mentioned, about 45 miles, but much of it is a 75 MPH Speed Limit on Arizona, so it's actually around 40-45 minutes ... I happen to enjoy the drive, which is why I chose to stay in Mesquite instead of St. George ... But that's a personal thing ... Thanks for your comments! |
| March 15, 2010 Dbax Men's 65 2101 posts | I think this happened last year. Is there going to be a time change between Mesquite and St. George? I believe St. George will be 1 hour later than Mesquite. |
| March 15, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | How about making a "DECISION" early enough so the word "TENTATIVE" doesn't need to be used at all. |
| March 15, 2010 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | I hear some variation of these complaints every year, more often about Reno/Carson City (also a 40 minute drive between the two). It is especially painful for those who like to reserve rooms early (double reserving is smart, but it takes hotels out of the availability pool, and is neither good for players searching for rooms nor for hoteliers who are swamped with last minute cancellations). The real solution seems to be to schedule each division for its own area (if not fields) and then live with it. When the field availability is filled, no more teams are accepted. Would likely diminish the total number of teams, but would result in fewer complaints. Dowell and staff are just trying to fit in more teams with clever rescheduling. Not a bad purpose. Would backfire if teams drop out as threatened above. As to the Mesquite to St. George drive, I agree with Dave that it is pleasant and beautiful, and that St. George hotels are overpriced for Utah, but I would be the first to complain if booked well ahead in one area and had to play in the other. |
| March 15, 2010 kbl Men's 60 544 posts | I TREAT EVERY TOURNAMENT LIKE A MINI VACATION. (EVEN BEFORE RETIRING). GET A HOTEL, GET A FIELD, GO PLAY SOFTBALL AND HAVE FUN WITH ALL. THANKS DAVE DOWELL. KEN |
| March 15, 2010 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | kbl: great attitude! It's why I often get a Friday night hotel before a weekend tournament, rather than getting up before dark on Saturday to hop in my car and rush to the field. Life is short—enjoy being able to still play. |
| March 15, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Nearby places you might check: Best Western Abbey Inn 0.8 mi N 1129 S Bluff St, Saint George, UT 93 reviews - Hotel Fairfield Inn by Marriott St. George 0.2 mi NE 1660 South Convention Center Drive, St. George, UT 53 reviews - Hotel Comfort Suites: St George 0.6 mi N 1239 South Main Street, Saint George, UT 34 reviews - Hotel Quality Inn St George- Utah 0.8 mi N 1165 South Bluff Street, St George, UT 39 reviews - Hotel Hilton Garden Inn St. George 0.2 mi E 1731 South Convention Center Drive, St. George, UT 90 reviews - Hotel Hampton Inn St. George 2.7 mi NE 53 North River Road, Saint George, UT 40 reviews - Hotel Budget Inn-St George 0.8 mi N 1221 South Main Street, St George, UT 23 reviews - Hotel Ambassador Inn 0.4 mi NE 1481 Sunland Drive, St George, UT 37 reviews - Hotel COMFORT INN St. George, Ut.: "A Quality Hotel with GOLF & THEATRE package!!" 0.4 mi NE 138 East Riverside Drive, St George, UT 27 reviews - Hotel Claridge Inn 0.7 mi N 1187 South Bluff Street, St George, UT Good Luck Boys! |
| March 16, 2010 Dbax Men's 65 2101 posts | Most of these hotels are sold out. the ones that aren't are over $100 a night. Much cheaper in Mesquite. |
| March 16, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Thats the point Dave. Add approx 360 miles of driving back and forth to the tally and wheres the savings. This consistent overbooking of teams to this tournament reminds me of how airlines operate. Someone always gets bent over. |
| March 16, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | If you go there w\o a room which I have done, try going down St George Blvd. I have always been able to find a reasonable place. That was 3 years ago and I know a couple were remolded since then, so take that into account. Some were not even listed on the net to call. When events of any type are in town, the rates go up like most other cities. But talking to them can work. The drives back and fourth (Mesquite\St G) are not viable. I believe there are places up about 8-10 miles past St. G in Midleton and Washington, I have stayed in Washington. They may be on the net but do not remember which they were. |
| March 16, 2010 TOMAR77 Men's 65 333 posts | This situation reminds me have being a Manager " Damn if you Do, or Damned if you Don't! or how about "You can't Win for Losing!" I do appreciate the concerns of my fellow ball player's the travel BUG got our team in Reno 2 years ago (drove back and forth to Carson. However, personally I feel Dave does an outstanding job of scheduling( and I'm not kissing ass.)No one knows in advance how the brackets will shake out.Giving teams up to two weeks to determine whether they will attend a Tournament is reasonable (not perfect I agree) but we all make compromises in life, sometimes" you gotta give a little to get a little". In return we get to play ball, enjoy the comradeship of fellow players, often make new friends, so lets focus on the positive and make the most of of the imperfect hands we are sometimes dealt. Good Luck to all in the Spring Worlds. TOMAR |
| March 16, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Tommy, I'd agree about Dave. I think a lot of the scheduling problems arise from late entries or withdrawals or available fields vs games in certain locations. Those compromises can be costly in many ways, which is what most are voicing thoughts about. Good luck there. |
| March 16, 2010 TOMAR77 Men's 65 333 posts | taits, your point is well taken. However you have proven my point, that due to unexpected changes, at the last minute I dare say. Some of us are forced to deal with those last minute changes, starting with the Dealer (Dave). So I guess we need to trust the Dealer to Deal the hand fairly to ALL the teams, understanding a few of us are not going to be happy with our new hand. This happens in all communities be it sports, politics, religion, you name it. Such is life!Will we see you in Mesquite, tait? TOMAR |
| March 16, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | I was neither for or against proving points. The last minute deals are killers for teams and the scheduling. You see XX number of teams in your bracket one day and the next you see different ones or maybe even more of less. As in most all cases the house has the upper hand...We all know that. Hope Dave has speech recognition software to do it... or he may end up with carpel fingers syndrome. Mesquite, um, no, neither you or Gary Hove got back to me. Or would have been. Not now, in any case. Will be as some ASA event. Not my preferred choice though. |
| March 17, 2010 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | Dave, Just read the message board and of course, I'm disappointed as many of the other AAA players above are. I am riding with 2 of my teammates and there is much to be said about warning players well in advance that these changes should be expected. You mention above that some teams made reservations in both towns. We certainly did not because this was not forwarned at least to our teammates. Again, it is a disappointment and I would certainly ask that you try in the future to keep schedules and/or locations as firm as possible as many of us have to drive long distances to get to these tournament locations. Thank You, Ed Andrews SI 60's |
| March 17, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Dave, can you tell us how construction is going on the new facility in Mesquite. We were led to believe it would be ready for this years Spring World tournament. |
| March 17, 2010 Connie Women's 55 118 posts | In answer to your question E4/E6..the new facility in Mesquite, Desert Falls Sports Complex, has not even been started..I live in Mesquite and the delay is due to contractors, permits, a new design configuration, etc. If you want to look at their web site go to http://desertfallssportsresort.com/. This complex is a long way off...but "Rome wasn't Built in a Day" either so let's keep our figures crossed! Connie |
| March 17, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | thanks Connie, I suppose like most municipalities red tape abounds. But a sport complex is a far cry from Rome. Or maybe not....... |
