Opportunities abound to help Cape host 'an incredible week' of baseball

CHARLESTON – For six days in August, baseball fans from around the world, literally, are going to converge on Cape Girardeau for the 2023 Babe Ruth World Series for 16-18-year-olds, and tournament director Michael Minner can hardly contain his excitement when thinking about the endeavor to host the special event.

“Our goal,” Minner said, “is to put on one of the coolest events ever in Southeast Missouri.”

Thousands of players, fans, coaches, umpires, and Babe Ruth officials will descend into the area for games from August 14 through the 19th at both Capaha Field and Cape Central High School.

From an athletic perspective, it will be “one of the coolest events” to witness, but from a business perspective, Minner expects it to be one of the most impactful events economically to come to Cape Girardeau.

“The hotels are going to be full,” Minner said. “Cape Girardeau, for that week, is going to be just loaded. Every restaurant is going to be full. Every hotel is going to be full. The ballparks are going to be full.

“It is just going to be an incredible opportunity for these kids and for our community to be a part of.”

However, like many viable business ventures, in order to reap financial benefits, you need to start with an investment of capital.

The local organizers are currently in the process of raising the funds necessary to put on the event, the first of which, is a fee of $50,000 to the Babe Ruth organization for the opportunity to host the event.

“It’s expensive,” Minner said of hosting the event. “It’s a big-time deal.”

There will be 18 teams participating in the six-day event, some of which are traveling from China, Taiwan, Australia, Aruba, The Netherlands, Canada, and Mexico.

“That is an incredible opportunity,” Minner said of hosting and competing against great teams from around the world.

The local organizing committee is now offering sponsorship packages, which range from individual sponsorships to corporate sponsorships.

“Some of these opportunities come with tickets, different (merchandise), and other opportunities,” Minner explained. “We think they are really fair, and it is going to help us pull this thing off.”

Minner, who coaches the Charleston Fighting Squirrels club, and will serve as the host team, has participated in several World Series and is learning the difference between being a participant and being a host.

“There are so many hidden costs that you run into,” Minner said.

Those “hidden costs” range from hotel rooms for the umpires and Babe Ruth officials, to bringing in enough restroom and concession stand venues at the facilities.

“You get ahead,” Minner said, “and then you think ‘Oh my God, I didn’t even think about this.’ There is always something else.”

Minner said raising $115,000 “before we throw the first pitch” would allow Cape Girardeau to be able to successfully put on an event that would reflect well on this community.

“We think that would make us feel really good about where we are,” Minner said. “There are lots of opportunities, and ultimately, all of this money is going (to help) the kids.

“It’s going to be an incredible week.”

Interested sponsors can reach the Fighting Squirrels via their Facebook page, or website at www.nutsbaseball.com.

Minner can be contacted via email at michaelminner13@icloud.com or (573) 382-2740.