Fuel cost seem unlikely to improve any time soon, if ever.
Anyone noticed an $$ impact in the amount and/or distance of summer team travel plans for 08?
Staying closer to home?
Fewer trips?
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We're taking fewer long trips. We are a 14U team and will play some 16U and 15U tourneys to get the competiton while staying a little closer to home most of the time. All of our guys played at least JV at their schools and about half logged some varsity time so playing up shouldn't hurt us.
Compared to last year this time, I figure I'm spending an additional $5 per 100 miles for fuel this year.
So far, the fuel cost is not a significant factor in the decision to travel or not.
It will be different when fuel hits $6/gallon. But even then, we could skip a restaurant meal, pack a lunch instead, and still possibly break even on overall cost of travel. I guess I'm suggesting its not a crisis yet.
So far, the fuel cost is not a significant factor in the decision to travel or not.
It will be different when fuel hits $6/gallon. But even then, we could skip a restaurant meal, pack a lunch instead, and still possibly break even on overall cost of travel. I guess I'm suggesting its not a crisis yet.
Last night-UNF vs Bethune Cookman-Jacksonville,Fl.
Round trip from Orlando to Jacksonville(U of North Florida)-300 miles divided by 25 mpg = 12 gallons x $3.55/gal= $42.60
Burger,fries,drink on the way up $6.50.
Drink at the game$2.00
Taking the boys to Checkers after the game-$18.50.
Total cost $69.60
Watching sons pitch--PRICELESS!
I guess you have to just grin and bear it.
Round trip from Orlando to Jacksonville(U of North Florida)-300 miles divided by 25 mpg = 12 gallons x $3.55/gal= $42.60
Burger,fries,drink on the way up $6.50.
Drink at the game$2.00
Taking the boys to Checkers after the game-$18.50.
Total cost $69.60
Watching sons pitch--PRICELESS!
I guess you have to just grin and bear it.
You just eliminate a few other things you spend money on each week---you can make it work if you want it bad enough
Son has 5 out of state tournaments this summer. We have already made adjustments at home due to rising fuel costs, not to mention grocery prices. We will just have to make more adjustments this summer because as I tell my kids “ain’t no mountain high enough to keep me from getting to you”.
MOC1: Well said!! Watching son play baseball: Priceless!! Thanks for saying what's on my mind.
We're still traveling to the large tournaments that we normally attend, including Jr. Olypmics, East Cobb and Summer Series in San Diego. Travel costs are weighing on everyone's minds though. Part of how many of the northern CA teams are dealing with it is to hold more of our own tournaments. The northern CA Connie Mack league is holding two tournaments for all the CM teams, one over father's day weekend, and a 4 day tournaments that we're hosting in Sacramento for the twelve CM teams in our section. These are in addition to our section tournament that will determine who travels to Long Beach for the western region tournament.
The general feeling among the teams was that we'd all prefer to find more opportunities to play without having to fly around the country as much.
The general feeling among the teams was that we'd all prefer to find more opportunities to play without having to fly around the country as much.
What I find with top flight National travel teams is that the most expensive cost of participation is the travel cost (hotel, food on the road, and air/ground travel). Hopefully the travel teams can find a way of being smarter in controlling the cost, but the cost of gas for the car specifically is not the main concern vs. the over all raising cost of everything.
It is going to cost more to get to practices as well as local games and tournaments which would be a consideration.
It is going to cost more to get to practices as well as local games and tournaments which would be a consideration.
Watching the evening news yesterday, they ran a story about because of fuel prices and other skyrocketing costs a few school districts in California were contemplating cutting out all Freshman athletics.
To me, when we have to start using our kids as chopping blocks to save money, we are in a really, really sad situation.
To me, when we have to start using our kids as chopping blocks to save money, we are in a really, really sad situation.
Son will be going to East Cobb and San Diego this summer and I or my family will not travel with him due to cost of travel. He will travel with the team. He is older now and will be good for him to mature and take care of himself but will be the first time ever mom and dad will not make the trip.
I've been saving money since my kids started travel softball and baseball, so the price of gas will not affect travel. The last year we rented a house at the shore for the summer we spent four nights there before the second week of August. Travel also stopped one of our summer vacations.
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Our outing to Brussels on a tramp steamer has definitely been scuttled not so much because of high fuel costs, but more because not many of us know how to speak Brusselese fluently. Our travel agent said there are no refunds...we're sprout of luck! We were all very much looking forward to the adventure...
...but alas our Prestige is broken and sinking fast.
Our outing to Brussels on a tramp steamer has definitely been scuttled not so much because of high fuel costs, but more because not many of us know how to speak Brusselese fluently. Our travel agent said there are no refunds...we're sprout of luck! We were all very much looking forward to the adventure...
...but alas our Prestige is broken and sinking fast.
Frankly, given United Airline's fare hike on Thursday, there is only one affordable path to Brussels from Chicago. I'm told that local GPS directions are as follows:
1.) Step off Navy Pier.
2.) North to the Mackinaw Bridge, (make U-turn to the right).
3.) South past Lake St. Clair and through the Detroit River (turn left).
4.) Head for the St. Lawrence (use caution up the Niagara River).
5.) Then, everything is pretty much 90 degrees due east for several weeks.
6.) You must slide around Ireland and the UK, but the North Sea storm season is already over.
7.) After you reach Antwerp, if you avoid the container ships, its all downhill...
Oh, one more thing: Don't forget the waterproof pouch for your new biometric passport.
P.S. We'll have a fine selection of the world's greatest beers laid in for your arrival. By then you'll need some agressive carb reinforcement.
1.) Step off Navy Pier.
2.) North to the Mackinaw Bridge, (make U-turn to the right).
3.) South past Lake St. Clair and through the Detroit River (turn left).
4.) Head for the St. Lawrence (use caution up the Niagara River).
5.) Then, everything is pretty much 90 degrees due east for several weeks.
6.) You must slide around Ireland and the UK, but the North Sea storm season is already over.
7.) After you reach Antwerp, if you avoid the container ships, its all downhill...
Oh, one more thing: Don't forget the waterproof pouch for your new biometric passport.
P.S. We'll have a fine selection of the world's greatest beers laid in for your arrival. By then you'll need some agressive carb reinforcement.
Seriously though,
I posted that question while thinking about HaverSon's last two tournament teams (age 14-18). He was fortunate enough to play on teams where a single sponsor paid 90% of all costs.
Back in Kansas City, around Y2k, many trips were 3-5 hours of driving to places like Wichita, Hutchinson KS etc. The majority of the 17-18 team's players were definitely from blue collar families who even then, couldn't afford most of the travel costs.
If the same sponsors were still involved in tournament baseball, I suspect the driving range would be much closer to home, eliminating motels totally.
I posted that question while thinking about HaverSon's last two tournament teams (age 14-18). He was fortunate enough to play on teams where a single sponsor paid 90% of all costs.
Back in Kansas City, around Y2k, many trips were 3-5 hours of driving to places like Wichita, Hutchinson KS etc. The majority of the 17-18 team's players were definitely from blue collar families who even then, couldn't afford most of the travel costs.
If the same sponsors were still involved in tournament baseball, I suspect the driving range would be much closer to home, eliminating motels totally.
In a word, yes.
Gas in the suburban Chicago area hovers around $4.00 a gallon, in the city it is much more, due to local taxes.
My daughters play travelsoftball. We are car-pooling as much as we can to drive to out-of-town tournaments. No sense in 12 cars from generally the same area driving the same hundreds of miles to the same place at the same time. Not only does this same money, it also saves oil....doin' our part to save the planet.
They will play more local games than otherwise scheduled---and will play in the next age bracket for the competition, rather than driving distances. We are lucky to live in a large metro area with a bunch of teams at all levels.
Two weeks ago, they were scheduled to be in a tournament about 65 miles away---not so bad, as travel ball goes. But the forecast was for wind, rain, and very cold temps. In past years, the normal operating procedure would be to drive to the field, wait around for hours to see if the weather conditions would change--it wouldn't--the directors would cancel the tournament and we would go home--having wasting the day, time, and money. This time, the tourney was postponed --the night before--to the following week, and the fees were refunded if that week was not available to any team.
Although you can't buy playing time
, there is a cost to seeing your off-spring play. And I liked it better when it was a dollar-something a gallon instead of 4. I sure wish that we could find teams with very generous sponsors!
Gas in the suburban Chicago area hovers around $4.00 a gallon, in the city it is much more, due to local taxes.
My daughters play travel
They will play more local games than otherwise scheduled---and will play in the next age bracket for the competition, rather than driving distances. We are lucky to live in a large metro area with a bunch of teams at all levels.
Two weeks ago, they were scheduled to be in a tournament about 65 miles away---not so bad, as travel ball goes. But the forecast was for wind, rain, and very cold temps. In past years, the normal operating procedure would be to drive to the field, wait around for hours to see if the weather conditions would change--it wouldn't--the directors would cancel the tournament and we would go home--having wasting the day, time, and money. This time, the tourney was postponed --the night before--to the following week, and the fees were refunded if that week was not available to any team.
Although you can't buy playing time
, there is a cost to seeing your off-spring play. And I liked it better when it was a dollar-something a gallon instead of 4. I sure wish that we could find teams with very generous sponsors!