Saturday, June 26, 2010

Goodbye Rosie

Prologue: On Friday, I had the opportunity to go to the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium, a major event to cross off my bucket list. As you may know, this is the last year of Rosenblatt Stadium, as it will be demolished and replaced by a new ballpark in downtown Omaha. In my one day at “The Blatt,” I try to delve into what makes the College World Series so special.

For ten summer days, the sports world turns their attention to the state of Nebraska. The Men’s College World Series brings hundreds of thousands of baseball fans to Omaha, Nebraska each June, as the champion of college baseball is decided.

But the seemingly simple event in a simple town isn’t as simple as it may seem. There is so much history behind the event that makes memories that last a lifetime.

There are so many different things that make the College World Series at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium such a special event. When you drive down Interstate-80 past Rosenblatt, you may get a quick glimpse of what looks like a fairly average ballpark. But it’s the history and memories that make the place special.

Rosenblatt opened in 1959, and has been hosting baseball teams and fans each summer. The stadium was opened due to the efforts of Omaha mayor Johnny Rosenblatt, and has been bringing memories ever since.

It’s hard to understand what makes Rosenblatt and Omaha so special in June until you exit off the interstate, and drive toward the ballpark.

As you make your turn onto 13th St. in Omaha, you head towards an old ballpark that brings together so many people. Old friends reunite, college students and alumni travel to root on their team, and young aspiring baseball players dream of their chance to play in the College World Series.

The streets are aligned with vendors. Everybody is selling their piece of memorabilia. You can buy hats, jerseys, t-shirts, and whatever else you’d like.

The unique thing is these vendors park their stands in the front lawns of local resident’s homes. Parking is also run the same way, as Omaha residents invite baseball fans to park in their yards, and join the party. Just another sign that this is Omaha’s event.

The College World Series brings in people from all over the country. Many fans are local Omaha residents who make a trip to Rosenblatt as routine as a trip to the doctor’s office. However, all around the parking lot, you’ll see logos of schools from all around the country. Schools in the CWS and even those who didn’t make it are all well-represented.

The food all around the ballpark is what makes this event so great. Food of all different varieties fills the areas surrounding the ballpark. This is the main reason why Omaha natives root for LSU, as they hope to eat some Cajun cuisine with the Tiger fans.

It’s the energy around the ballpark that makes the event special, but the memories are all made inside Rosenblatt.

As you walk into the ballpark, you can instantly feel the excitement. Fans from all of the participating teams fill the ballpark in their school’s colors. For the casual fan, you’re left to find a team to root for. TCU has been the sentimental favorite this year. I personally rooted for UCLA because I love their (not denim) powder blue.

The crowd is always anxious for each pitch, and every ping of the aluminum bats. A home run to the bleachers lifts the decibel levels loud enough to shatter windows at the monkey dome across the street at the Omaha Zoo.

Each trip to the ballpark brings different memories for baseball fans. Some people like myself make their first trip to the Blatt, some are making another routine stop at their summer home.

The end of an era at Rosenblatt has brought a lot of sadness for the locals in Omaha. The new ballpark will bring fantastic, modern amenities, but just doesn’t hold the history and camaraderie of Rosenblatt.

So as I left the ballpark after a great day, you could sense that feeling in the air. The history will be left at the soon-to-be empty lot along the interstate, as Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium will be torn down. The final year brings back happy memories and a bittersweet feeling.

As I left the ballpark, I felt like I experienced every College World Series in one day. That’s what Rosenblatt does. Fitting enough, as I left the ballpark, the song on the radio sang, “Goodbye Rosie.” Couldn’t have said it better.

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1 comment:

  1. Nice artcle Chris. I never made it to Rosenblatt but your article painted a great picture for me. I hope to make it to the new stadium next year.

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