Table Tennis, Anyone?

While many of us are preparing to stuff ourselves silly on Thursday, others are preparing for competition. When many people think of Thanksgiving and sports, football is what comes to mind, but there are other sports taking place in Maryland over the holiday.

Yes, Baltimore will be hosting an NFL match-up this year when the 49ers come to town to take on the Ravens, but did you know there’s an international table tennis tournament in town, as well?  The North American Teams Table Tennis Championships begin on Thursday at the Baltimore Convention Center.  The championships run through Sunday.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor ready for the next level

Tonight, the Greater Baltimore Committee unveiled their dramatic new plans for Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and surrounding area that will “take the Inner Harbor to the next level” according to President and CEO Don Fry- and trust us, once you take a look at the plans, you WILL agree!

Areas covered in the hot of the press plans include a new arena, convention center expansion, Rash Field and a few other hot topics you will have to see to believe…

Whacking Watermelons . . (and other fun at FanFest)

The Merry Marketeers were dining at the Inner Harbor when Tweety remarked on the parade of lacrosse jerseys and other lax apparel passing by our window.  Yes, the changing of the guard has occurred — soccer coaches out, lacrosse operatives in. 

Another weekend of fun and games (not to mention educational seminars and live field demonstrations) as another sport with great popularity has a pow-wow in town.   The locally-based US Lacrosse National Convention draws more than 5,000 coaches, officials, and administrators for the weekend, beginning today and running through Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.

So what does this have to do with whacking watermelons, you ask?

One of the most popular elements of the weekend traditionally occurs on Saturday.   Known as the Fan Fest, the exhibit hall featuring everything that is new and groovy is open to the general public.  Lacrosse players of all ages, along with family, friends, and frat brothers, can attend the largest lacrosse exhibition in the country. More than 140 vendors will showcase the latest in equipment, clothing and technology. Tickets can be purchased on site for the 12:00 – 4:00 pm event for $10.00.  Youngsters between 7 and 12 years of age are admitted for $5.00 if they wear their team jerseys, and those 6 and under are admitted free.

Among the premiere attractions this year (if one can judge by viral videos) is the Reebok Watermelon Challenge.   The science based demonstration of a model product is enlightening, particularly when the demonstration is by a couple of professional lacrosse players.  But the real challenge is getting enough velocity in the stick to take out a watermelon with a lacrosse ball.  That’s downright hilarious.

In order to see what a sticky mess (and irresistable challenge) this is, tune in here:

Reebok promises to have pro and college stars stepping up to the challenge, but they are also inviting the fans to take a swing as well.  (Do you think they give out kewpie dolls?  This could replace the sledgehammer bell at the state fair.)

So join in the fun and come to the official kick-off of lacrosse season. Even if you don’t get splattered (maybe they could throw in a seed spitting contest with the casualties) there will be lots to do, see, and learn.

Celebrating Selections

I had no plans to stop in the MLS SuperDraft, even though it is just across the street.  But a conversation with a Red Bull fan in line at Subway changed my mind.

He was part of a bus caravan that left Harrison at about 6:00 this morning.  This soccer fanatic even brought a date to the festivities.

Anyway, after he described the fan groups, the funny hats, drums, chants, and flags, I decided I had to go.  I’m glad I did. I hadn’t seen this much ruckus since the 1980 Republican Convention.

Those pictured here are one of the three Red Bull fan groups.  They seem to have something to do with Vikings.  I don’t get the connection, but since there was a band of them present, it must have some deep significance.  Perhaps it’s some reaction to drinking the product.

These folks are part of the Philadelphia Union delegation.  I’m not sure what the sombreros were about, but it likewise seems to have some deep meaning to the faithful.  They were the loudest contingent when I was there, taking up one whole section of the ballroom.

Most energetic, however, had to be the aforementioned Red Bulls.  They were singing, chanting, beating the drum and waving the flag almost the whole time I was there.

While they were outnumbered by DC United partisans, I noticed the ranks of the Red and Black were diminishing during my visit.  I knew their bus wasn’t due to leave for a few hours, so I went outside to look for them.

The second floor of the Convention Center was teeming with activity as thousands of soccer coaches were arriving for their annual conference.  This display was part of the welcome.

I noticed a stream of United scarves heading towards Pratt Street.  Not just the street, but what was across it.  If any of the out of towners wondered where they were assembling to honor thei new team members, this certainly would have guided them to the ale house.

I decided to check it out.  Sure enough, it was jammed with DC United stalwarts, getting ready for the end of the day celebration.

(Not to be outdone, the Philadelphia squadron STARTED their day in a pub, warming up before their march to the Convention Center.

So it looks like this week of soccer is going to be a grand success — for the sport, the Convention Center, and certainly the hospitality trade on the periphery.

Can’t help but wonder, though.  Think those Vikings might get a little rowdy after a few tankards of mead?

SuperDraft Spectacle

I was hoofing to work this morning when the new vertical banners on Pratt Street caught my eye.  They proclaimed the upcoming MLS SuperDraft, which will take place tomorrow at noon at the Convention Center.

As mentioned previously, the league meetings and their annual draft take place in conjunction with the Coaches Association convention.  It is part of what makes this a national celebration of the entire soccer culture, from rec leagues to scholastic, collegiate and pro teams.

But I didn’t realize that entire fan groups make pilgramages to this event and celebrate its outcome with the teams and new prospects.  This is a picture taken at least year’s draft in Philadelphia, where adoring fans on the Union greeted their top pick.

I did a little checking around and learned that at least three MLS teams are ralling their fan base to trek to Baltimore for the ritual.  (In the soccer culture, draftees are draped in a team scarf instead of a ballcap or jersey. Likewise, you will recognize fans by their distinctive scarves.  It’s de rigueur winter attire.)

If you want to watch the proceedings, it is free and open to the public.  If you’re like me, you might want to watch the fans watching the draft and join in their celebration.  It sounds even more entertaining.  Here are some particulars:

Philadelphia Union devotees will be assembling at 10:30 at a bar called Tir Na Nog (near the Convention Center) and marching over at noon

New England fans are planning a bus trip, leaving Gillette Stadium at 1:00 am. and not leaving Baltimore until 5:00 PM. 

United fans are carpooling and busing.  They are meeting at RFK and will convoy up the parkway.  United fans will also march into the ballroom from their bus, and adjourn to the Pratt Street Ale House afterwards.

ESPN 2 will broadcast the first round live.  Subsequent rounds will be carried live on MLSsoccer.com.

It sounds like a good time, and a great kickoff for the soccer convention later in the week.  We’ll get to watch some of the fun (like the parade of fans) from here in the Warehouse, but I’m beginning to think this scene might be well worth checking out for its spectator appeal. 

If there was one thing we learned during the World Cup chase, these fans are passionate and devoted.  And that’s worth watching.

$port$ $upport$

Anyone in the hospitality industry will tell you that January is pretty grim.  Not too many vacationers, home games, or even socializing when the days are short and nights are cold. 

So it was indeed encouraging to pass some visitors stepping off the light rail, headed for the Hilton, as I was leaving work last night.  Even more gratifying when they stopped to admire our display of purple passion shining from the clock tower over Camden Station.  These out of towners knew immediately they were in a sports-loving town.

As it turns out, that’s one reason why they’re here.  Terry reminded me that the National Field Hockey Coaches Association was holding their annual convention at the Hilton, bringing 500 coaches and officials from all over the country for three days of meetings.  And that is just the first of three national sports conventions this month, representing nearly 13,000 room nights in Baltimore hotels and over six million dollars in direct spending.

In addition to the conferences and lectures, the nfhca is also staging a SNEAK PEEK  Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.  SNEAK PEEK is for aspiring scholastic athletes,  an opportunity to participate in game play, skill stations and clinics with and in front of Division I, II and III coaches from across the nation. With all the coaching power in attendance, SNEAK PEEK offers the opportunity to learn from clinicians while providing significant exposure to college coaches.

From January 11-13, Major League Soccer will be in town for their annual draft.  This event is held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The actual convention begins on the 13th, although there is overlap between the two.  This compound event is the soccer summit of the year, and will attract about 8,000 attendees over the course of the week.  Because Maryland is such a hotbed of soccer players and programs, there will be many people who come just for the day, so the actual attendance could be much higher.

The following weekend, Baltimore-based US Lacrosse, governing body of the sport, will host their annual convention here.  This event, which includes the popular, open to the public Fan Fest, is considered the official opening of the lacrosse season.  The trade show alone has 300 vendors, so every new innovation in the sport is represented.

As exciting as all this is, I can’t help but wonder (and I know all you Marylanders are with me on this) how truly grand it would be if our Ravens beat the Chiefs and Steelers and the Jets bump off Indy and New England.  (Work with me on this.) 

With that scenario, Baltimore would host the AFC Championships right here in Camden Yards.  Wouldn’t that make a heck of a January for our hospitality industry? 

Wouldn’t hurt the Stadium Authority, either. That would keep us in purple gels for the Camden Station clock tower for at least another year.