Westfield Strategy Beginning to Pay Off
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWestfield Mayor Andy Cook says the city's $45 million investment in the new Grand Park Sports Campus is starting to pay dividends. The city announced yesterday that the 400-acre facility will host more than 5,000 baseball games between April and October. Cook says multiple tournaments are expected to draw dozens of teams from 15 states and two countries. The complex is part of a plan to boost its economy through tourism. He expects approximately one and a half million visitors each year when the campus is at full capacity.
January 2, 2014
News Release
Westfield, Ind. — The City of Westfield, Lids Indiana Bulls and Bullpen Tournaments are excited to announce the initial 2014 baseball schedule at Grand Park. Games will begin the first weekend in April and run through the end of October. During this time, more than 5,000 games will be played at Grand Park Sports Campus. Each tournament will include an average of 60 teams coming from 15 states and two countries.
“The interest in the baseball facilities at Grand Park has been enormous. Lids Indiana Bulls has done a fantastic job filling the tournament schedule, which will bring many visitors to Westfield from across the country,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook.
The first baseball game is scheduled on March 8 when DePauw University will play Manchester University. Manchester is coming off the 2013 campaign where they finished the season 37-7 and played in the DIII World Series.
The first tournament is scheduled for April 4-5 and opens with the Midwest High School Classic featuring teams from four states. Among the attendees will be three of the last four state championship teams in the state of Indiana. Numerous professional and college scouts are also expected to attend. Also taking place at that time is “First Pitch Weekend,” which is geared toward 9-13U teams. It will be the first opportunity for the top talent in the Midwest to play at Grand Park Sports Campus.
“The Lids Indiana Bulls organization is excited to call Grand Park home. It is truly one of the best facilities in the country. We look forward to working with the City of Westfield to help make Grand Park and the entire city a premier sports tourism destination,” said Mike Mundy, Executive Director of the Lids Indiana Bulls.
Visit www.bullpentournaments.com for the full 2014 baseball tournament schedule and for booking contact information.
About Grand Park Sports Campus
Opening spring 2014, Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, is a destination like no other. The thoughtfully designed 400-acre Grand Park Sports Campus features 26 baseball and softball diamonds, 31 multipurpose fields for soccer, football, rugby, field hockey and lacrosse as well as two indoor facilities to accommodate year-round play for a variety of sports. It also features an abundance of green space and more than 10 miles of pedestrian/bicycle trails, including the largest trailhead on the Monon Corridor.
More than 1.5 million sports visitors are expected to participate in or attend tournaments and events at the Grand Park Sports Campus on an annual basis making the surrounding area a prime location for economic development. The master plan outlines approximately 1,400 acres of land available for residential and commercial development including hospitality (hotel, restaurant and retail), mixed-use, life science and corporate office uses.
Grand Park is bound by State Road 32 on the south, 196th Street to the north, Spring Mill Road on the west and United States Highway 31 to the east.
Source: City of Westfield