City And CVB Win Bid For 2008 National Softball Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2006
 

For more information contact:
Mick Renneisen, Director, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation, 327.6121
Valerie Peña, Executive Director, Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 355.7720
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569
 

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan and Valerie Peña, Executive Director of the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), announced today that Bloomington has been awarded the 2008 USA/ASA Girls 10 and Under Class A Fastpitch Softball National Tournament. Bloomington competed against 17 other cities from across the nation and was awarded the tourney at the 75th Annual Amateur Softball Association National Council Meeting, which is being held in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"It is through this Community Collaboration between the City and the CVB that Bloomington was in a position to win the bid for such a prestigious national tournament," Kruzan said. "I give a tremendous amount of credit to the energies of Mick Renneisen, the City's Director of Parks and Recreation, and his staff, along with Valerie and her terrific crew at the CVB for making this happen. Local residents and businesses benefit from having these events in our community as they provide a great deal of economic impact."   The CVB is a full partner with the City in bringing national sports tournaments to the area.
"We're excited to be given the opportunity to host another softball championship," Peña said. "Our partnership with the City continues to hit home runs for the community both though national exposure and economic impact." She added that Bloomington also was recently chosen to host an Amateur Athletic Union Girls 12 and Under National Basketball Tournament in 2008, with 75 teams expected to participate. "We're becoming quite the youth sports destination!" Peña said.   Approximately 60 teams are expected to come to Bloomington to compete in the softball tournament from July 27 through Aug. 3, 2008. According to CVB staff, the softball tournament could generate $1.5 million in economic impact for Bloomington.
  This will be the 16th ASA national softball tournament to be hosted by City of Bloomington, Indiana Parks and Recreation and the CVB since Twin Lakes Sports Park was constructed in 1992.  
  Also at the National Council Meeting, Bloomington garnered its 12th ASA Award of Excellence for conducting one of the highest-rated softball tournaments in the country during 2006. Bloomington achieved a 98.8 rating for this summer's USA/ASA Girls 12 and Under Class A Fastpitch National Tournament.   

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