Navigating through the new CWS
June 14, 2011
About 10 years ago at the C.W.S., President George W. Bush, threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the 2001 College World Series. Channel 6 News has confirmed, the former president will be back again this year, but this time at the new park, but with the new stadium also comes a new set up for baseball fans to get used to.
With a view over looking the new home to the C.W.S, new changes are already starting to take shape, a new organist for one.
Maggie Osborn and her family are from Omaha, but moved away years ago, they're down to grab a memory of their own in front of the new park. Maggie Osborn says, "To have the facility brand new, and be downtown, I think people will like it as long as the find a place to park."
Parking will come at a premium this year according to Dan Morrissey, with C.W.S of Omaha, Inc., he says we should shuttle in or car pool to the park.
Chase Moffitt says, "And according to C.W.S. of Omaha, Inc., there will be no need to camp out in front of the ticket office, if you want to be to a part of the 1000 reserve seat raffle, just be here by 930, you'll get a raffle ticket, and wait for your number to be drawn."
And remember general admission seating? That stays the same, seating will be in left and right field. You can line up in front of gates 3 or 4, with your general admission ticket.
Fanfest started set up today, as well, which will be open Friday and remain open daily in lot C and in front of the stadium.
For other activities around the stadium, the Old Mattress Factory is putting together what they call, "The New 13th street,” a baseball village in their parking lot, it’s free and open to the public.
Cyndi Murphy, Assistant Manager with the Mattress Factory, "We've tried to take the old 13th street as everybody saw it and incorporate it into our lot."
Just one of the 6 available beer gardens near the ball park, among the other public tents, all of which Kelsie Sow, says shouldn't affect the atmosphere and says. “I think fans are pretty crazy, it's going to be a lot of them every year, it's your team your probably going to be a die hard fan and come down no matter what."
According to the MECA web site, there are approximately 850, $10, first come first serve surface lot parking spaces, in lots A and G. These lots open daily at 8:00 a.m.; they close 90 minutes after the last game. And on those lots, tailgating is allowed, but alcohol is banned.
