 "Baseball Boy" is in the Public Domain "Hey Blue, where is a good place to get something to eat around here?"
That's a question I get asked a lot by parents who visit Columbus through Travel Baseball. There are tens of thousands of travel baseball teams around the country. Virtually all travel baseball games are played on weekends in a tournament format. Travel Baseball is a family affair. Often you see parents, siblings and even grandparents. And, they spend money. Lots of money. At Ceraland, where you can often find me in the summer, some travel baseball families camp; others lodge at hotels. They need food and supplies. I've seen families order pizza for the kids, while the adults go out. One boy came with only his Crocs and needed a pair of baseball shoes. Two boys forgot their jerseys and needed t-shirts in order to play. Let's not forget the pop-up shelters, water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, and even coats for those cold games in March. This was all money spent right here in Columbus. A 2019 analysis from WinterGreen Research estimated the youth sports industry was worth $19.2 billion. As a comparison, the same year, the NFL was worth an estimated $15 billion. Columbus is wise to tap into it. Comments are closed.
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AuthorI was born and raised in Columbus, and I've spent the last 24 years living and working here. I love our city, and together we can keep it great! |