$2000 is, from my experience, standard as to what a good showcase team costs. Considering that most quality tournaments range from $850-$1500 that fee is not that far out of whack. Also, there is a difference between a travel team and a showcase team. Travel teams generally start after little league and play local events that cost less to register for. They try to play kids equally and are more winning oriented. Showcase teams typically are for for 16U-17U that are supposed to play at higher level tourneys in front of scouts, college coaches. Kids playing time depends on what kids the scouts are there to see. Of course these days more and more 13-17 yr old teams label themselves "showcase" but are really just travel teams and there in lie the problem. Parents just need to educate themselves and do more research as to what they are getting themselves into. Just bc a team labels themselves "elite" or "showcase" doesn't mean that they are. And just bc your kid was a stud in little league and had some success at 13 doesn't mean that parents should blindly spend $ on an elite/showcase team.