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the Canadian press
The Little League World Series is like before, and more.
After there were no tournaments in 2020 or foreign clubs in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth baseball tournament has expanded to 20 from around the world who will play in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, starting Wednesday.
This year’s series marks the 75th anniversary of the first tournament, which has a staple in life in central Pennsylvania, not to mention an economic boost for South Williamsport, where the Little League complex is located, and Williamsport, just across west from West Branch. Together, communities of around 35,000 more people eagerly awaited the return of enthusiasts and families.
“Last year we had a limited global series, of course, but nothing can update a full global series,” said Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter. “It’s hard to quantify, or even qualify, what that means. “
In 2021, only a circle of family and friends could enter the two stadiums of the Little League complex for matches. Large classical crowds were missing from the lawn chairs on the hill of the Lamade Stadium, which will be the site of the championship on August 28.
Slaughter estimated that the 2022 World Series will attract another 85,000 people to his city, adding that the tournament’s return to its full perspective could have a $40 million to $50 million effect on the community.
The mayor hopes this year’s attendance will surpass the good fortune of pre-pandemic events. Several points play into this, adding the return to a sense of normalcy and the excitement that accompanies a milestone like the 75th anniversary of the first tournament in 1947.
But a reorganization and expansion of the tournament draw can also have an impact. The Little League World Series is comprised of 20 groups for the first time in 2022, having previously hosted 16 groups.
Two new regions were brought to the United States: the metropolitan one comprising Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, and the mountainous region comprising Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Two new regions were also brought in internationally, with Panama and Puerto Rico winning bets for this year’s tournament.
A spokesperson for the Little League World Series said the resolution to introduce 4 new regions is intended to reflect spaces with the highest degrees of participation in Little Leagues. However, more equipment means that more parents and family circle members provide at a minimum. in the case of the metropolitan area, in particular, the Northeast now hosts 3 global series deals instead of two.
“I think (the expansion) will surely increase traffic,” Slaughter said, “just because of the geographic location of this metropolitan area. Obviously, it’s not that far from Williamsport, so other people can drive smoothly here. “
If a moment of expansion was meant to get more states represented in the Little League World Series, the mountainous region again took temporary advantage of it.
It’s hard to call a favorite at a double-elimination festival among players who are even in the top school, but it’s worth noting that Honolulu, the 2018 champion and the team in third place last year, is back and once back led by Gerald Oda.
Meanwhile, some of Slaughter’s expected 85,000 attendees have begun arriving in Williamsport. They will occupy the headquarters of restaurants and other businesses in the city during their stay.
“It’s hard to put it into words,” Slaughter said. I feel fortunate to be able to welcome you here to Williamsport and that our businesses and our industry are getting some relief over the next two weeks. This is well deserved, given what we have, everything has been tracked in recent years.
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Max Ralph is a journalist at Penn State.