It might not have been the prevailing opinion around Rosenblatt Stadium the past two weeks, but some out-of-town fans are looking forward to the College World Series moving downtown.
To be sure, many of those surveyed have respect for the tradition and history at Rosenblatt. Still, the event has grown in size and spectacle, which had many attendees looking forward to the move to TD Ameritrade Park in 2011.
“I think it’s outgrown (Rosenblatt),” said Ben Jones, 33, of Memphis, Tenn. “If you’re selling general admission tickets, people shouldn’t have to wait for hours wondering if they’re going to get in.”
Darren Gremillion last made it to the CWS in 1998 and said the tournament is markedly different now.
In 1998, the Baton Rouge, La., resident didn’t have to wait in line three hours before the opening pitch to snag a general admission seat. And while he’ll miss Rosenblatt, he acknowledged the crowds were getting larger.
In 1998, “it wasn’t a big deal to get a ticket,” he said. “But I’m glad it’s grown to this size.”
Locals, too, are finding downsides of Rosenblatt. Doug Tilson has attended the CWS every summer for the past 10 years. The 26-year-old said it’s not so much the size of the stadium — after all, the capacity for TD Ameritrade will be similar to Rosenblatt — it’s getting near Rosenblatt that is the problem.
When the Plattsmouth resident drives to the game, he wants to actually get to the game. Instead, he spends a lot of time looking for parking in what has become an increasingly frustrating endeavor.
“I think it will be a lot easier for fans to come into Omaha,” he said. “Parking will be a lot easier to get to downtown.”
Growing up, Mike Kelly wouldn’t have been able to point to Omaha on a map were it not for Rosenblatt. He watched the CWS on TV from his home in Columbia, S.C., his only connection to Omaha before moving to Council Bluffs.
The 39-year-old said the idea of moving to TD Ameritrade Park was emotional at first, but it ultimately will be best for the event’s Omaha longevity considering it helped secure the tournament through 2035.
“Probably at first mention, building a new stadium, I was completely against it,” Kelly said. “But the more I thought about it, getting it to stay here another 25 years is a big deal.”
Charlie Radcliff and his tailgating buddies were upset about losing Rosenblatt. They worried about what would happen to the neighborhood atmosphere, tailgating spots and the overall environment that comes with moving to the downtown landscape.
While his group was somber, Radcliff said life will go on. He said the tournament won’t be the same downtown, but it will still be in Omaha and he will still make the trip from Zachary, La.
“In a way, its like a funeral, a wake,” the 62-year-old said last week. “Everybody resists change, but change is inevitable. We’ll make the best of it.”
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