If We Don't Ditch the 'Blatt the College World Series Will Ditch Us

To answer a previous column's  question—No.  The College World Series would not be the same in downtown Omaha, because it would be in another city.  Whether or not it is a “good decision” is irrelevant.  It is the only decision that Omaha can make and still be the CWS host.

The superficial arguments against Rosenblatt are well documented, namely the lack of an open air concourse, but the problems are really systemic. The park is a 50 year-old concrete municipal stadium in need of constant up keep not to mention renovation to move it into the 21st century.  It is also located in an isolated area of town nowhere near the kind of facilities demanded by the NCAA and the potential sources of tax revenue needed by the city. It is a wonder that Omaha has been allowed to retain the CWS for so long. 

When I say College World Series I think of Omaha, but it won’t be that way for long if we don’t take action. All you have to do is look at the cities hoping Omaha folds. Indianapolis, the home of the NCAA, is also home to what Baseball America calls the “Best Minor League Ballpark in America.”  And believe it or not, it’s located in the kind of downtown that Omaha would kill for. 

Look, I love that park. But retaining the CWS in Rosenblatt is not an option. To imagine that Dobb worked this plan up himself is naïve, it’s not how things like this work. The NCAA has been busting the city’s hump for years, just look at how much revenue they have been dumping into the ‘Blatt.

It is also misleading to say that Omaha tax payers would foot the $140 million bill, they would pay less than half that. I understand that change is not necessarily progress, but in this case it is.

I won't even mention the damage that Rosenblatt is doing to Royals attendance. We'll save that for another day.