Whacking Watermelons . . (and other fun at FanFest)

The Merry Marketeers were dining at the Inner Harbor when Tweety remarked on the parade of lacrosse jerseys and other lax apparel passing by our window.  Yes, the changing of the guard has occurred -- soccer coaches out, lacrosse operatives in. 

Another weekend of fun and games (not to mention educational seminars and live field demonstrations) as another sport with great popularity has a pow-wow in town.   The locally-based US Lacrosse National Convention draws more than 5,000 coaches, officials, and administrators for the weekend, beginning today and running through Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.

So what does this have to do with whacking watermelons, you ask?

One of the most popular elements of the weekend traditionally occurs on Saturday.   Known as the Fan Fest, the exhibit hall featuring everything that is new and groovy is open to the general public.  Lacrosse players of all ages, along with family, friends, and frat brothers, can attend the largest lacrosse exhibition in the country. More than 140 vendors will showcase the latest in equipment, clothing and technology. Tickets can be purchased on site for the 12:00 - 4:00 pm event for $10.00.  Youngsters between 7 and 12 years of age are admitted for $5.00 if they wear their team jerseys, and those 6 and under are admitted free.

Among the premiere attractions this year (if one can judge by viral videos) is the Reebok Watermelon Challenge.   The science based demonstration of a model product is enlightening, particularly when the demonstration is by a couple of professional lacrosse players.  But the real challenge is getting enough velocity in the stick to take out a watermelon with a lacrosse ball.  That's downright hilarious.

In order to see what a sticky mess (and irresistable challenge) this is, tune in here:

Reebok promises to have pro and college stars stepping up to the challenge, but they are also inviting the fans to take a swing as well.  (Do you think they give out kewpie dolls?  This could replace the sledgehammer bell at the state fair.)

So join in the fun and come to the official kick-off of lacrosse season. Even if you don't get splattered (maybe they could throw in a seed spitting contest with the casualties) there will be lots to do, see, and learn.

Celebrating Selections

I had no plans to stop in the MLS SuperDraft, even though it is just across the street.  But a conversation with a Red Bull fan in line at Subway changed my mind.

He was part of a bus caravan that left Harrison at about 6:00 this morning.  This soccer fanatic even brought a date to the festivities.

Anyway, after he described the fan groups, the funny hats, drums, chants, and flags, I decided I had to go.  I'm glad I did. I hadn't seen this much ruckus since the 1980 Republican Convention.

Those pictured here are one of the three Red Bull fan groups.  They seem to have something to do with Vikings.  I don't get the connection, but since there was a band of them present, it must have some deep significance.  Perhaps it's some reaction to drinking the product.

These folks are part of the Philadelphia Union delegation.  I'm not sure what the sombreros were about, but it likewise seems to have some deep meaning to the faithful.  They were the loudest contingent when I was there, taking up one whole section of the ballroom.

Most energetic, however, had to be the aforementioned Red Bulls.  They were singing, chanting, beating the drum and waving the flag almost the whole time I was there.

While they were outnumbered by DC United partisans, I noticed the ranks of the Red and Black were diminishing during my visit.  I knew their bus wasn't due to leave for a few hours, so I went outside to look for them.

The second floor of the Convention Center was teeming with activity as thousands of soccer coaches were arriving for their annual conference.  This display was part of the welcome.

I noticed a stream of United scarves heading towards Pratt Street.  Not just the street, but what was across it.  If any of the out of towners wondered where they were assembling to honor thei new team members, this certainly would have guided them to the ale house.

I decided to check it out.  Sure enough, it was jammed with DC United stalwarts, getting ready for the end of the day celebration.

(Not to be outdone, the Philadelphia squadron STARTED their day in a pub, warming up before their march to the Convention Center.

So it looks like this week of soccer is going to be a grand success -- for the sport, the Convention Center, and certainly the hospitality trade on the periphery.

Can't help but wonder, though.  Think those Vikings might get a little rowdy after a few tankards of mead?

SuperDraft Spectacle

I was hoofing to work this morning when the new vertical banners on Pratt Street caught my eye.  They proclaimed the upcoming MLS SuperDraft, which will take place tomorrow at noon at the Convention Center.

As mentioned previously, the league meetings and their annual draft take place in conjunction with the Coaches Association convention.  It is part of what makes this a national celebration of the entire soccer culture, from rec leagues to scholastic, collegiate and pro teams.

But I didn't realize that entire fan groups make pilgramages to this event and celebrate its outcome with the teams and new prospects.  This is a picture taken at least year's draft in Philadelphia, where adoring fans on the Union greeted their top pick.

I did a little checking around and learned that at least three MLS teams are ralling their fan base to trek to Baltimore for the ritual.  (In the soccer culture, draftees are draped in a team scarf instead of a ballcap or jersey. Likewise, you will recognize fans by their distinctive scarves.  It's de rigueur winter attire.)

If you want to watch the proceedings, it is free and open to the public.  If you're like me, you might want to watch the fans watching the draft and join in their celebration.  It sounds even more entertaining.  Here are some particulars:

Philadelphia Union devotees will be assembling at 10:30 at a bar called Tir Na Nog (near the Convention Center) and marching over at noon

New England fans are planning a bus trip, leaving Gillette Stadium at 1:00 am. and not leaving Baltimore until 5:00 PM. 

United fans are carpooling and busing.  They are meeting at RFK and will convoy up the parkway.  United fans will also march into the ballroom from their bus, and adjourn to the Pratt Street Ale House afterwards.

ESPN 2 will broadcast the first round live.  Subsequent rounds will be carried live on MLSsoccer.com.

It sounds like a good time, and a great kickoff for the soccer convention later in the week.  We'll get to watch some of the fun (like the parade of fans) from here in the Warehouse, but I'm beginning to think this scene might be well worth checking out for its spectator appeal. 

If there was one thing we learned during the World Cup chase, these fans are passionate and devoted.  And that's worth watching.

$port$ $upport$

Anyone in the hospitality industry will tell you that January is pretty grim.  Not too many vacationers, home games, or even socializing when the days are short and nights are cold. 

So it was indeed encouraging to pass some visitors stepping off the light rail, headed for the Hilton, as I was leaving work last night.  Even more gratifying when they stopped to admire our display of purple passion shining from the clock tower over Camden Station.  These out of towners knew immediately they were in a sports-loving town.

As it turns out, that's one reason why they're here.  Terry reminded me that the National Field Hockey Coaches Association was holding their annual convention at the Hilton, bringing 500 coaches and officials from all over the country for three days of meetings.  And that is just the first of three national sports conventions this month, representing nearly 13,000 room nights in Baltimore hotels and over six million dollars in direct spending.

In addition to the conferences and lectures, the nfhca is also staging a SNEAK PEEK  Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.  SNEAK PEEK is for aspiring scholastic athletes,  an opportunity to participate in game play, skill stations and clinics with and in front of Division I, II and III coaches from across the nation. With all the coaching power in attendance, SNEAK PEEK offers the opportunity to learn from clinicians while providing significant exposure to college coaches.

From January 11-13, Major League Soccer will be in town for their annual draft.  This event is held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The actual convention begins on the 13th, although there is overlap between the two.  This compound event is the soccer summit of the year, and will attract about 8,000 attendees over the course of the week.  Because Maryland is such a hotbed of soccer players and programs, there will be many people who come just for the day, so the actual attendance could be much higher.

The following weekend, Baltimore-based US Lacrosse, governing body of the sport, will host their annual convention here.  This event, which includes the popular, open to the public Fan Fest, is considered the official opening of the lacrosse season.  The trade show alone has 300 vendors, so every new innovation in the sport is represented.

As exciting as all this is, I can't help but wonder (and I know all you Marylanders are with me on this) how truly grand it would be if our Ravens beat the Chiefs and Steelers and the Jets bump off Indy and New England.  (Work with me on this.) 

With that scenario, Baltimore would host the AFC Championships right here in Camden Yards.  Wouldn't that make a heck of a January for our hospitality industry? 

Wouldn't hurt the Stadium Authority, either. That would keep us in purple gels for the Camden Station clock tower for at least another year.

Swivel and Swing at the Convention Center

Probably the only table you had to concern yourself with this weekend was the one surrounded by relatives and starring a turkey.  So just imagine a 150,000 square foot room  with 144 tables, and a thousand very active, highly competative, people scrambling over top of each other, reaching for something other than cranberry sauce.

Wecome to the annual United States Table Tennis North American Teams Championship in Baltimore.

For three days, thousands of table tennis competitors with their friends and family descend on the Inner Harbor for this event that gives each team numerous opportunities to improve by playing teams of all skill levels.  First held in 1998, this tournament attracts athletes from all over the world and continues to increase attendance every year.

[A few clarifications for those of you who may have some questions at this point.  First, Table Tennis is an Olympic Team Sport.  Second, it isn't nice to call it Ping Pong, no matter what you remember from Forrest Gump, Balls of Fire, or the Nixon Administration.  The sport (not game) is Table Tennis.  It uses racquets, not paddles.]

The Baltimore tournament is considered the largest in the world, with participants playing the most matches over the three days of competition. On Friday, teams play between 2 and 4 ties against other teams (a  "tie" is the best of 9 matches; each "match" is the best of 5 games) in preliminary play.

These results are used to assign Saturday and Sunday matches according to ability. Every team will play at least 40 and as many as 108 matches.

(Does your wrist hurt yet?) 

On Sunday, the top ("Elite Division") players will compete for cash prizes.  These include Olympians, National Champions, and World Champions.  This is the most popular of the spectator events, as all other participants get to rest their rotators and enjoy.

As this annual tournament continues to grow in popularity hope to keep welcoming them back to Maryland for years to come.  It's a great way to burn off those holiday calories.

An Unexpected Windfall

The latest issue of Press Box is out, so I snagged one while walking to work. I love Press Box because I always learn something new, or look at something differently, by reading it. Today I gained appreciation for the big bucks associated with an aspect of the sports industry I’d never thought about – collecting sports memorabilia.

The article is about the upcoming Sports Collectors Convention being held in Baltimore August 4-8. Since we have all sorts of conventions (including the always-entertaining Otakon,  which should make interesting light rail conversation for the soccer fans,) I didn’t give much thought about the kind of impact it might have on the hospitality industry or how it related to real-time sports.

When I saw the kind of eye-popping stats produced by the visitors and participants at this hoedown, I was amazed.   Because it’s one more reason why sports in Maryland is big business, it’s appropriate to share them with you here.

Consider this: 35-40,000 people will attend over the five days. Between exhibitors, fans, and celebrity guests that adds up to about 4,500 hotel rooms per day.   Spin offs include restaurant meals, services, car rentals, and retail purchases.  Birds are at home during that stretch, so you can bet there will be an influx at the box office from those out of towners eager to visit our iconic ballpark, which is directly across from the convention hotel.

Another ancillary event taking place in a uniquely Baltimore (and on-site) venue is the Heritage Auction Gallery’s live event at Sports Legends Museum, August 5th. This will feature a number of Baltimore-centric memorabilia, including some Babe Ruth relics and a 1958 Baltimore Colt team-signed football.

At least 75 former athletes, including Oriole and Colt Hall of Famers, will be in attendance. The 50's era Topps baseball card of Cal is a commemorative, recognizing his 50th birthday this year. This is part of a special set that will be included in a VIP package at the convention.

Once again, Baltimore was a good choice for this first convention held on the East Coast in seven years because it is a recognized sports town, in a central location, with a downtown Convention Center close to the interstate, airport, light rail and Amtrak. 

Check out the article for more information and be sure to stay tuned for more details. This will be a great celebration of professional sports in a family friendly atmosphere.

Revving Up the Convention Center

Today's the day!   Indy Racing League and Baltimore Racing Development are holding a press conference to announce the sanctioning of the Baltimore Grand Prix as part of the Indy Car annual circuit.

That puts us in the same league as St. Petersburg, Long Beach, and even the Indy 500, because these cars race on oval as well as street courses during the season.

While the first event is slated for August, 2011, the commitment is through 2015 -- giving Marylanders something to plan summer getaways around for the next several years.

Governor O'Malley and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake are leading cheers right now for a crowd that includes the tourism industry, economic development operatives, elected officials, and race enthusiasts.  From the number of reporters and cameras I saw before snapping this shot and slithering across the street, you'll be hearing a lot about this race and its potential on the 6:00 o'clock news tonight.

This is Wheels Week.  After the high octane roar today, Team Terry shifts gears for a pedal power pitch for Tour de Maryland tomorrow.  We'll be covering that from Annapolis, so stay tuned.

Jumpstarting the Season

The end of January can be pretty dismal.  Winter is not half over, football nearly is, and outdoor sports and recreation seem as far off as March Madness.

Which makes this the perfect time to crawl out of hibernation and prepare for the coming of spring.  Forget the groundhog -- we've had it with winter.

This past weekend were three season starters that longtime aficionados anticipate every year to help with the doldroms.  In Timonium, the Horse World Expo staged its 14th annual event January 21-24 at the Maryland Fairgrounds.  This four day celebration of the horse featured mounted demonstrations, educational seminars, breed and stallion presentations, and vendors selling products and services for every discipline.

There were also clinics and seminars on every aspect of horsemanship. Riding disciplines included Western, hunters, dressage, gaited and eventing. Clinicians demonstrated their approach to handling and training.

With equestrian competitions beginning in the spring, the Expo offered a look at what's new in equipment, training and technique, plus a lot of quality time with horses of every breed.  For the horse lover, this is nirvana.

For those who prefer surf to turf, the 56th annual Baltimore Boat Show docked at the Convention Center for the full weekend.  While primarily a retail event (with sales of boats, equipment, art, and everything relating to the water) the Boat Show is also a reunion for those who make the annual trek during the most inclimate time of the year.  (Yes, just being there made you think warm)

But for one of those days, there was yet another winter tradition that helps us believe spring cannot be unbearably far away --- the Oriole Fan Fest.  It's hard to believe the temps were sub-freezing when you saw all those O's caps and t-shirts wandering down Conway and snaked around the Warehouse ticket office.  I'm told there were about 10,000 in all.  I think they actually outnumbered the kazillion cheerleaders and laxers who were raising the roof last weekend.

So for those who think they'll undergo severe withdrawal after Super Bowl, take it from those who spent their weekends looking ahead -- there's a lot going on in Maryland this spring and there's always something new to learn about.

Lots to Cheer About

I was wandering around Baltimore last weekend, fully aware the town was going to be overrun with laxers.  After all, the US Lacrosse convention is the biggest pre-season event of the year, bringing in coaches, officials, players and fans from every tier of competition.

What I didn't expect was a sea of perky ponytails with saucy skirts, matching hair ribbons, manicures, eye shadow and pom poms in every possible color combination on every street corner between the harbor and the convention center.

Earlier in the week, Mark Burdette told those assembled for the World Cup announcement that the Ravens had to roost in the Hoosier equivilent of Elkton because every hotel room in Indy was taken for a cheerleading competition.  According to Mark, every sideline strutter in the world was going to be in Indianapolis that weekend.

So what was this throng doing in Baltimore? 

I caught a few on their way to Panaro's for some pre-competition carbs and learned they were in from Ohio.  (No, I didn't ask if they were the Cheerios from William McKinley High, but I was tempted.)  It seems this particular competition, known for its glitz, light show, sound effects and slick production, was a particular favorite on the circuit.  It had originally been scheduled for early February, but when the organizers realized they were competing against Super Bowl, they punted and opted for MLK weekend instead.

I asked how many competitors were there, and they said hundreds of teams.  Since each team has several squads, (and even more parents,) that put attendance in the thousands.

I tried to get a more definitive number out of the Charm City Circulator coordinator, who was passing out Mardi Gras beads in front of the bus.   "Kazillion" was her conservative estimate.  They were coming out of everywhere and shuttling back and forth from the harbor on the new service.

At this point I offered a silent prayer of thanks for those visionaries with the wisdom to expand the convention center and attach a hotel.  No way this town could have accommodated two major weekend events like this otherwise.

And that's not even counting the vroom-vroomers from the Arenacross circuit up the street.  Imagine:  Red Bull and Monster mixed with adreneline and estrogen in one city block.  Entirely too much energy for me.  I took refuge in Pickles, which turned out to be the sanctuary for a bunch of lax referees between sessions. We all hung out to watch the playoffs with Captain Defense and the neighborhood fans.

Despite the outcome, Baltimore had a lot to cheer about with all the activities in the convention center and arena.  It's a great sports town, mostly because Maryland is a great sports state.   All of the action taking place that weekend were national events that had wide regionial appeal and participation.  That's why Baltimore was selected to host them, and why the whole state is getting more attention from promoters.

We have more cheerleaders coming this weekend -- this time to 1st Mariner for a statewide competition.  Again, the hotels will be filled and the local restaurants become stopovers between events. During the slowest season for the hospitality industry, sports activities offer a significant boost.  That's something to cheer about.

More good soccer news!

Maryland continues to gain respect in the world (literally) of soccer with the National Soccer Coaches Association's decision this week to bring their 2016 and 2018 conventions to Baltimore.

The convention, which is taking place this week in Philadelphia and includes the MLS and WPS drafts (hence the international flavor) is already scheduled to be in Baltimore this time next year.  Adding another two years adds credence to Maryland's status in organized soccer, because the Coaches Association is the largest of its type for any sport anywhere.  While attendees come from all over the world for a week of activities, it is also a boon to the local enthusiasts (of which we have thousands within an hour's drive) who can visit on a weekend pass.

This is a huge event and will give Team Terry another showcase to tout Maryland as THE place to stage competitions and sports-related activities.

Finding Futsal

The only way I knew futsal is a sport and not kitchen gadget is that it appears ahead of golf in the “add a venue” section of this website. After entering 200+ golf courses into the data base, I became fully aware that whatever futsal might be, it happened in Maryland.

So imagine my surprise when I learned that July 9-12, the 24th U.S. Futsal National Championship was held at the Baltimore Convention Center for the second year in a row. About 8,000 participants and spectators attended the four days of action, with competitions among all age groups (boys and girls) and a men’s and women’s category. Although the medal rounds were dominated by East Coast teams, a total of 11 states were among the winners.

Since the 25th U. S. Futsal National Championship will return to Baltimore in 2010, I need to know more about it. One thing I did learn – there are a number of teams in Maryland and they seem to have a very active network.

I finally (thanks, Wiki) figured out that futsal is a specialized brand of indoor soccer, played on a hard court surface with a smaller ball and five players on a side. It’s faster and more improvisional than conventional soccer, but a part of their universe. And it seems to be growing exponentially in popularity. Some of the Maryland teams have relationships with the professional soccer teams in the area.

So add a thriving, energetic futsal community as one more reason Maryland is a soccer-centric state. Maybe we’ll see a few of them at M&T next Friday.