Ronald McDonald Tournament

[sbparent]

My kids are done with travel ball but I still try to stay semi informed with the goings on.  I noticed at some point that Triple Crown Sports had bought out the Ronald McDonald showcase in Houston.  I wondered how a "for" profit company buys the rights for to a "non"profit fundraiser tournament would work out money wise but I guess folks are happy.  I know they have also bought out the old Fireworks tournament in Colorado.  Anyone have any thoughts or comments on how Triple Crown runs their tournaments.  I saw that the Fireworks tournament is now like $1,600 entry fee plus whatever kickback they get from the bookings of hotels through them.  That sure seems like a lot in my opinion. 

Anyway, I looked at this years' RM tournament webpage and noticed only 50 or so colleges had signed up and none of the big boys were listed; no UT, A&M, Baylor, OU, etc.  From Texas, there were only 7 4-year schools signed up.  I also noticed a weather update page that said all games were on for Friday.  With a 100% chance of rain for Saturday that is probably the only games that teams will get in.  In reading the fine print it says that if you play 2 games and the tournament is rained out then you get NO money back.  So that's basically $900 entry fee plus rooms and eats for maybe 2 games.  My daughter commented she remembered when the RM tournament entry fee was a stuffed animal.  Not sure it was ever that but I know that it sure wasn't $900.

 

[KPFAN68]

There will be more than 50 colleges at the tournament. Some colleges have stopped notifying tournaments that they are coming. They just show up. I do not like the fact that Triple Crown now runs this tournament. If the weather is bad, I would assume that tournament games would be moved to the Scrapyard (turf fields). That will really back up game times, but that may be the only way games get played.

 

[sbparent]

When I looked at the RM schedule I thought it was odd that the "good ole boy" teams were playing some gams at the Scrap Yard in Conroe.  Normally all those teams only play their games at the main complex at Collins Park.  I now realize that those were the only parks that got games in on Sunday due to the rain.  Imagine that.  Everyone else just paid their $900 for 2 games.

[KPFAN68]

Our team played one game on Friday. It will be interesting to see how long it takes Triple Crown to get our money back to us. I heard that even at the Scrapyard on Sunday, girls were slipping all over the place. Two knee injuries.