FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                       June 18, 2007

USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TRAINING COMPLEX OPENS IN CARY , NORTH CAROLINA

Game #1 of the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars is the Inaugural Game at the complex

CARY , NC – USA Baseball and the Town of Cary cut the ceremonial ribbon today on the USA Baseball National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary , North Carolina as part of day-long grand opening festivities.  USA Baseball President Mike Gaski, Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon and Town of Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister cut the ribbon on the $11 million facility while local citizens, fans, players, and representatives from Major League Baseball looked on.

The USA Baseball National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park will serve as the home for the organization’s on-field programming, including the inaugural event which kicked off today, the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars.  Before the end of the year, the USA Baseball National Team (collegiate level), USA Baseball Youth National (16-U), the USA Baseball 14-U National Team and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team will all hold events at the complex.

The first game at the complex was Game #1 of the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB).  The game featured all-star teams from MLB’s RBI program and PONY Baseball.  In addition to USA Baseball programming, the complex will eventually host international and domestic baseball events, Town of Cary Park and Recreation programming and baseball education programs for umpires and coaches.

“This has been our vision of ‘home’ for the past 5 years, and we can not begin to express our gratitude to the Town of Cary and Wake County for their support making the vision a reality,” said USA Baseball Executive Director Paul V. Seiler.  “When we arrived in North Carolina in 2003, I do not think we could have ever imagined how truly incredible this facility would be when we cut the ribbon on it.”

Total construction costs for the complex were $11,024,691 with $1 million coming from the Wake County Occupancy and Prepared Food/Beverage tax funds and the remainder from the Town of Cary .  The USA Baseball National Training Complex is located within the 221 acre Thomas Brooks Park and includes four baseball fields – a stadium field and three training fields – all with dimensions of 330 feet down the lines and 400 feet in centerfield. All fields are maintained at Major League Baseball standards.

The stadium field has a press box that includes two suites, an official scorer’s room, a sound room and a press row. The stadium has spectator seating for 1,754 people, including handicapped accessible seating, and additional grass seating for approximately 250 people. All fields have access to restroom facilities and a concession building. 

“I have no doubt that baseball players, coaches, fans, and families throughout the nation join me and the rest of Cary in celebrating the opening of this first-class facility,” said Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister.  “The USA Baseball organization has been a great group to work with, and hosting them in Cary is already boosting our area’s employment opportunities, increasing tourism dollars for the region, and promoting the outstanding quality of life that Cary offers its citizens.  As always, we appreciate the partnership we have with the Wake County Board of Commissioners and their financial support of this important project.”

In January 2003, the Town of Cary and USA Baseball selected Heery International as the architects for the project.  Raleigh-based T.A. Loving served as the general contractor on the complex.

USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The organization selects and trains the USA Baseball National Team, the USA Baseball Junior National Team (18-under), the USA Baseball Youth National Team (16-under), the USA Baseball 14U National Team (14-under), and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team which participate in various international competitions each year.  For more information on USA Baseball please log onto www.usabaseball.com.

####

David Perkins

Director, Marketing and Licensing

USA BASEBALL

Phone: 919.474.8721 x215

Fax: 919.474.8822

www.usabaseball.com

April Little

Deputy Public Information Officer

Town of Cary

Phone:  919.481.5091

www.townofcary.org

Susan Moran

Public Information Officer

Town of Cary

Phone:  919.393-4383 (pager)

www.townofcary.org