The Opening Round site selection process takes into account: qualification, minimum bid, facilities and geography. The Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau and Brooks Stadium Commission worked together to present their formal bid to NAIA earlier this year.
Other host cities selected to host the 2012 Opening Rounds include: Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA; Mid-Central College Conference, Marion, IN; Appalachian Athletic Conference, Kingsport, TN; Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK; Lee University, Cleveland, TN; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL; Tabor College, Hutchinson, KS; and University of South Carolina Beaufort, Bluffton, SC.
Historic Brooks Stadium hosted the Opening Rounds in 2011 with Paducah’s McDonald’s Restaurant as title sponsor. McDonald’s Restaurant is once again participating as the title sponsor for the 2012 tournament.
"Perhaps one of the most important factors for hosting a successful sporting event in a community is the coordination of grassroots efforts,” said Fowler Black, Sales Director at the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Dr. Frank Hideg and the Brooks Stadium Commission help to lead this grassroots effort through active service for the sake of the community."
Each location will feature a five-team double elimination tournament. The 46 qualifiers for the National Championship Opening Round tournaments will be announced on May 6.
The Paducah tournament will be held May 10-12 and will include 125 direct participants (5 college teams plus staff). A free baseball clinic for area youth will be held May 9 to give young people a chance to work with the college athletes.
The direct economic impact of the tournament to Paducah is estimated at $400,000 because of the number of spectators attending the 4-5 day event. The Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau has worked closely with the Brooks Stadium Commission and Kentucky Sports Authority to organize all activities related to the tournament including a pre-tournament banquet at the Luther Carson Four Rivers Center.
