March 29, 2024

My College World Series experience

I had the privilege of traveling westward to Omaha this past weekend to catch two College World Series games.

Kaleb Carter, the sports editor here at the Creston News Advertiser, and I moseyed down Highway 34 eagerly awaiting to see some of the nation’s best “amateurs” compete for a spot in the championship round.

We were interrupted twice when an accident forced us down a dirt road that we were both convinced was going to end at any given moment. The second interruption was minor, but more comical as we realized the first game had already started because we both assumed we were still in the eastern time zone. The schedule listed the start time as 3ET, so we were shooting for 3 o’clock instead of 2.

Once we reached Omaha and made it to TD Ameritrade Park, we took our seats in the outfield bleachers during the middle of the third inning. We knew the first game was going to be a doozy given that LSU and Oregon State held the two longest winning streaks of the season until they met for the first time the previous Monday.

After a couple more innings of play, I decided it was time to get some food and my line waiting experience of the College World Series began.

Life is full of constant decision making.

Waiting for adult beverages is going to take longer than waiting for a hot dog, but sometimes you choose to wait.

Other times you decide to spend less money on tickets by purchasing general admission.

I thought a great deal about taking the time in my first column to complain about a lot of issues I had with this process, but I won’t.

What I will say is that TD Ameritrade Park had room for 5,500 people to sit in the general admission section of its park. However, the decision was made to sell quite a few more tickets than that Friday night. By the time Kaleb and I made it into the second game Friday night, hardly any seating was available.

The general admission line we were forced to wait in snaked its way from the entrance gate, down a couple blocks, around a fence and back along that fence for what felt like a mile.

While standing in line we were convinced we weren’t going to get into the park. Luckily we did.

Once we got into the stadium we realized how many people were still behind us in line.

General admission sure looked at capacity by the time we made it in given the lack of seating and amount of patrons standing on the concourse.

The whole process made me wonder how many $15 general admission tickets they sell over the 5,500 capacity. The ticket states it does not guarantee you a seat, but selling, let’s say, 7,000 tickets seems unethical.

(If anyone knows any real general admission sales numbers, I’d be very curious to ask a couple of questions.)

Outside of this complaint, the College World Series is a fantastic event to attend. The atmosphere is one that Major League Baseball should take notes on. Beach balls flying around the outfield bleachers is entertaining to younger children and adults.

OK, some adults.

My favorite part of the games was when the fans in the left field bleachers started chanting at the right field bleachers, “right field sucks!”

I’m still not sure what exactly prompted this heated exchange between two sides seperated by nothing except the beach ball graveyard, the opening in center field where staffers toss beach balls that have made there way onto the field.

College fight songs after a run scored keeps the team’s fans active and adds to the overall atmosphere.

So, take in the biggest event these “amatuers” will play while still “in school.” By the time they get to Omaha, a number of them will have been drafted and playing for their school for the final time.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say this one more time. If you want to guarantee yourself a seat, don't buy general admission or else get to the park early.

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Contact the writer:

Twiter – @CarterEckl

Email – ceckl@crestonnews.com