LakePoint

People need to check themselves. I have had my own issues with the nickel and dime fees like parking but that's about Lakepoint and not PG. PG provides a great platform for kids to have a great time and hopefully get the exposure that they need. To attack Jerry and PG as just doing it for the money is cheap and ignorant. I think it's a brilliant business model and I hope they make a Bazillion dollars. Many of the delusional parents who spend the money and come away mad because something went wrong that was caused by an act of God are just trying to be difficult. You see all of the great testimonials that people have spent time writing. It's very easy to expend energy when you have something negative to say. It's much harder to take the time to write something positive. Many folks have done that. Says a lot. PG Staff should just ignore those who are just bitching to bitch. If someone has a solution then by all means try and address it but ignore the ones that just want attention.

I think it's absolutely appropriate to criticize PG. They aren't perfect (no pun intended) but try and offer a solution and don't make accusations about their intentions. They run a great business and manage enormous events and do them better than any other organization in the country.

In other words, don't be dick because you were inconvenienced.

       
       

Why are you so butt hurt?  I said PG had a great business model.  You keep saying that PG doesn't control what goes on at the facilities but then said you were able to get something done about high concession prices at lake point.  How about getting lake point to lower the gate fees to $5?
The only people I have known that did it for the kids are the volunteer coaches in little league and board members.  One year I coached, was on the board, and my wife ran the concession stand. 
Two questions I wish you would answer:
1) What is your annual salary as a PG rep. (I'm a GS 11 step 9 salary for the govt.)
2) Why does PG mandate teams stay at certain hotels?

       
       

Our team just finished playing in a 16u tournament in DFW area and I wasn't too happy paying $5 entry fee and then having no one running the scoreboard.
The only consolation was being able to bring in a cooler and drinking beer (plus no parking fee.) Lol
Can't wait to get back to American Legion next year.n

You never know when to quit.

 

Beer at a youth baseball game, that's classy, just as classy as the first sentence in your post!

 

Yup, you need to go back to American Legion, cant wait for that.

I think he meant for the adults.

Doesn't matter, never been to a tourney or any HS game where  smoking and  adult beverages were allowed.  

Our team just finished playing in a 16u tournament in DFW area and I wasn't too happy paying $5 entry fee and then having no one running the scoreboard.
The only consolation was being able to bring in a cooler and drinking beer (plus no parking fee.) Lol
Can't wait to get back to American Legion next year.n
       

How many scouts and recruiters were there?  How many scouts and recruiters will be at you're American Legion games?

Even if I were interested in the measly 25-50% scholarships that could vanish from one year to the next I do know of a Dad whose son earned a scholarship with a D1 university and played in the College World Series this year as a freshman.  He told me his strategy was to make a small youtube video of his son pitching and targeted 50 colleges.  His son was recruited his senior year.  I know of a American legion player locally who go a D1 scholarship as a pitcher a month ago.  

I'll save my money thanks. My 16U son will go for a full academic ride like his 3 siblings before him.  

Legion ball. Years and years of history behind it. Free-ish and supported by the local community. Relegated to the trash bin by the dream sellers and profiteers who have inserted themselves between high school and college athletics. If the players were still playing Legion ball that's where all the scouts would be. But no.....the profiteers have subverted the natural process. All for the kids. LOL.

 

And you are being ridiculed for supporting Legion ball instead of forking over $thousands of dollars to the Gatekeepers and Dreamsellers.

 

What a wonderful world.

By me there are two park district facilities that sell beer.  It's really nice when done responsibly and certainly helps cover the cost of the facility.  

Legion ball has not been relegated to the trash bin. Legion ball is alive and well doing what it is intended to do.  

 

Read the American Legion website. Their baseball program (perhaps I should say 'our program' since I am a member) is not about helping players get to the next level of baseball. It's about helping young men get to the next level of life.

 

American Legion and Perfect Game are not enemies. Both are vital parts of the landscape of baseball in America. Both can flourish simultaneously. 

 

There is no need for proponents of either to disparage the other.

 

 

I enjoyed my son's two years in American legion (8th and 9th grade) and the only reason he decided to go back to tournament ball was Legion ball was going to interfere with 2-days for football.  However one of the American Legion coaches said it wouldn't be a problem if he had to leave the team for football in early August since most American Legion teams carry 18 players on the team. . 

When my son traveled for Jr. American regionals in Kansas last year the American Legion program paid for all the kids hotel rooms.  I think I spent maybe $350 for uniforms and fees and whatever gas expense to get my son to the games.  Only gate fees were at the tournaments and not games.  I saw just as good competition as I did in this tournament ball since you are playing across 3 age groups instead one age group.  

 

Maybe as more parents get frustrated with getting nickled and dimed to death in tournament ball they will gravitate back to American Legion?  We shall see. 

You mean TPM is wrong?  Oh my gosh!  

 

I remember playing little league in the late 70's and my Dad and mom would be drinking in the stands and having a great time.  I did get embarrassed playing centerfield when my mother would be slurring my name, cheering me on, "Go Roberto'!"  LOL

I didnt disparage legionball or say one negative word against the organization.

I said I also can't hardly wait for him to get back to legion ball. 

Then we don't have to hear his negativity.

The lack of class showed in his reply to PG, about getting butt hurt. That's classless, so was the mention of beer in the cooler.

JMO

I would like to mention that maybe PG should take a look at not using the Woodlawn HS near Cartersville.   The field was barely playable, there was no rubber on the mound.  I don't think I remember playing on a field that did not have a rubber.   Son was 88-89 last week , today 86 I asked him why and he told me the issue.  To me that is a problem.... not a bitch

That would have been a time to refuse to let your son pitch? No?

 

$2000 entry fee? And no one could check to see if the field was properly equipped?

I did not noticed it , I thought it was just dirty and could not see it



> On Jul 19, 2015, at 11:36 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

We have been paying for our son to play travel ball since he was 10 years old. We started attending Perfect Game events when he was 13, a 14U event. We always spent a ton of money between summer and fall ball knowing he would get exposure but Mostly for the experience. When they started construction on LP son was a bit discouraged, not because of the turf park but because he thought he may not get the opportunity to play there. The 1st four fields were completed and he had the opportunity to play there last year at the 17U WWBA tourney. He talked about it for weeks. This year for the 18U WWBA he got to play 5 of  his games there. Forget the $5 fee for parking, heck it was great playing at a beautiful venue. He told me the only negative on the fields was, as a pitcher, there was no way to scuff up a new ball because there is no dirt on the field. That day it had rained and the balls were damp.Thanks PG for all the wonderful years. We will enjoy watching him at the next level due mostly to the opportunities you provided. Blessed

Did you mention that in your pm to Mr Ford or save the complaint it for here?

Why not call the organization?

I just found out a couple hours ago , you are right I should have emailed



> On Jul 19, 2015, at 11:58 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I played Legion ball when it was the only game in town for high end summer baseball. Unless a player was a top shelf stud, played with one or his team made regions exposure was very limited. Several of us on my team benefitted from playing with top shelf studs and making regions. 

Is that the entry fee or is that what the team charged its players?

So you were there but didn't notice there was no rubber on the mound?  

Funny how people notice other details but something not as important as that.

 

Oh for the record not in a pm I said that children often take on their parents attitudes. Its easy to see why young adults have such attitudes these days, it trickles down and its very much noticed by college coaches. 

Yes, you should have mentioned that in a pm.

       
       

The 16u fee is $1250.  I just read where the 17u fee is $1750.  Don't understand why one year requires a $500 increase.

ENTRY FEE: $2000/team  **NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED AT ANYTIME AFTER PAYMENT. PERFECT GAME WILL HOLD A CREDIT TO A FUTURE EVENT IF NOTICE OF CANCELLATION IS GIVEN AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR**

AGE LIMIT: 2018 Graduate or Born on/after May 1, 1999 

COOLERS: Coolers/drinks will NOT be allowed at LakePoint.

GAMES: 7 guaranteed, weather permitting. Teams are expected to be able to play Friday July 17th at 8AM. Schedule will be released 4-5 days before the tournament starts. 

Thanks.

For a 7 game guarentee, and with 15+ players usually per team, $2000 is high but not obscene.  I think many of these teams are treating this as their end of the year tourney which always costs more than the average tourney.

 

My question would be the part about the hotels:

 

"HOTELS: All teams will be required to book housing through LakePoint's official housing bureau. You will be notified as soon as we are ready to start accepting reservations."

 

Some of these teams are local...are they allowed to skip this part about being required to book housing?

Good question? Do local teams have to book hotels thru PG?

 

And why does a team have the requirement to book at hotel thru PG? Is the entry fee not enough? What does PG get back from the favored hotels? $20 a booking? $10 a booking night?

 

And remember that is $2000 plus $65 per person gate fee. Plus Parking. Plus a bottle of water or two.

 

When is enough????!!!!!

There is an easy solution to all of this...DON'T GO!

 

PerfectGame is a business.  Businesses can only exist if they make a profit.  Do you go on message boards to complain when US Air charges you $25 per bag to travel to the tourney?

We are 17U team...the tournaments we play throughout the Carolina's have similar hotel booking requirements...it's not just PG.  My thoughts are 1- the tourney organizers probably get a little kick back but more importantly 2- they are going to know if the hotel is not booked and paid for in advance that there is an issue and the team may not show up for the tournament and would cause scheduling issues, etc. 

^^^^^^^ What he said 

My experience was there was a minimum number of rooms that teams had to reserve.  One year most families stayed at the team hotel, but several stayed elsewhere.  The other years, the team stayed together and the parents got to stay anywhere they pleased.  There is a good variety of hotels at many different rates to suit any budget.  Your team needs to book early to get the best selection.  Remember, at some of the events 300 teams x 20 families are coming into the area and most teams like to stay together, so this service is really to HELP the teams!  

 

As far as the cost, $2k for 20 players for 7 games is less than $15/game/player.  Well worth it.  But, this cost is usually buried in the summer fees that also include other tournaments, coaches stipends and their hotel rooms, etc.  

 

Just go, enjoy yourself, watch some good baseball, and eat some good food.  See several of the sites in and around Atlanta before or after games.  Make the best of it....this time in your child's life will pass way too soon.

 

At the end of the day, you want to look back and hope you had a good time.  LakePoint is a Godsend....the last year keewartson was at WWBA (2013), there was so much rain they only played 4 of 7 games.  ouch.

 

 

       
       

I just fly Southwest airlines. ;o).
It's not easy to not attend if you are committed to a team.  My son committed to his 16u team and he will see it through.  We knew in advance that travel ball costs money.

20 players? What does the second string do all week? Cheerlead?

 

I get pitchers only adding to a roster. But 20?

 

People pay to go to this knowing they are players 15 thru 20 in the pecking order? Assuming they don't pitch. And they find this worthwhile? Or is this some rotate positions, equal playing time bs?

 

 

       
       

I would think that having the team's entry fee with no refund would be enough to encourage the team's to show. 
I actually found a better hotel rate outside the mandated list of required hotels.  No one is going tell me where I have to stay.

Go to the PG website and check out some rosters of the 17U WWBA.  I just checked a few rosters that I am familiar with and they have 26/21/28/19/20 on roster with most alrealy committed.  With 7 games in about 6 days, you have to have pitching.  Lots of it.  Players may not  play the entire 7 innings.  

 

It's not 12U anymore.

 

 

Some players may only come for part of a week. 

Some players are added to a roster that eventually don't show up.

Some players are added to a roster to fill in, from another state and/or team.

 

Not equal playing time BS.  It's called having enough pitching (and catching for that matter) for a full week of baseball for a minimum of 7 games.  There are teams out there who don't want to abuse their pitchers.  Teams that we had played for when we went to WWBA events were all about getting as many players seen by scouts and recruiters as possible.  So, everyone got to play.  

 

If you are worried about play time with a 20 man roster, what are you going to do when your kid gets to college and is on a 35 man roster??  Better be ready to do some serious competing for a spot when that time comes!!

 

And for the sake of argument.  Say your team has 16 players on it.  A little low if you ask me, but let's say that's what you have.  It is still only $17.85 per player per game.  Still pretty darned cheap.  

This is like cable tv rates. Sign up for $17.85 per game.

 

*****Plus gate fee, plus parking, plus water tax. Hotel not included. Customer required to have vacation time. In limited areas only. Pitching rubber depending on location.

If one lives in Georgia and is within driving distance then your economics make sense.  But for others that travel across the country, airfare, rental car, hotel and food can easily turn this into a $2500 trip.  So now we're looking at $300+ per game and potentially $200+ per at-bat (assuming split playing time for all the players).  Not so cheap anymore, but potentially worth it if you get meaningful playing time (completely not worth it if you don't get meaningful playing time).