2010 ISSUES Aug-Sep Issue 2010 Aug-Sep Cover - Gay Softball World Series Preview
Mid-Summer Classic
Columbus To Host Largest-Ever Gay Softball World Series
Convenience has never before been such a luxury for the organizers of the Gay Softball World Series. That changes this year, as Columbus, Ohio has offered up the convenience of 31 softball diamonds – all in one location. A, B, C and D divisions – they’ll all be played at the same place: Berliner Park, the largest softball complex in the country.
It’s just three miles from downtown Columbus, where the host hotels and nightlife are located.
Dallas Aldridge, co-executive director of the Columbus 2010 organizing committee, says that convenience is going to resonate with players and make them remember this year’s event.
“I think they’re just going to be blown away,” Aldridge predicted.
Roy Melani, commissioner of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, agreed, stating: “I think Columbus is going to have done NAGAAA a great service.”
“We produce, in my view, the greatest annual sporting event in the world,” said Melani, who believes the committee in Columbus has left no stone unturned in its effort to put on a stellar week of activities. 
It’s not an easy task, considering the amount of teams and players, and the organizational headaches that come with each new tournament. The GSWS and NAGAAA continue to grow so fast, it can be difficult to manage that growth. Melani, who took over as NAGAAA commissioner in 2003, says the GSWS has grown in that time from 76 teams to a record 150 this year. Across North America, member cities account for 745 teams, compared to 450 in 2003.
“We’re much more visible than we were 10 years ago,” said Melani, explaining the league’s growth spurt. “The individual tournaments have fed into this; the individual cities have gotten their act together in the way they promote gay softball locally. That contributes to the growth nationally.”
The next frontier, he says, are “second-tier” cities.
“Most major metropolitan areas have gay softball leagues that are affiliated with us. The next real growth area is for these second-tier cities that have gay leagues to come in and be a part of (NAGAAA).”
He referenced cities like Knoxville, Raleigh, Louisville and Tulsa as those places where NAGAAA growth seems likely. 
In addition to physical growth, NAGAAA representatives feel the organization has grown in other ways, too.
“The quality of our product has gotten better,” says NAGAAA Business Development Director Gary Carter, attributing that to the countless hours of work from board members at the local levels. “The product on the diamond is significantly better.”
“The teams going to Columbus this year (represent) 20 percent of our teams,” added Melani. “That makes for a very good, competitive environment.”
But make no mistake: the GSWS isn’t just fun and games. This is serious, and the economic impact NAGAAA can have on a city is significant.
“When you realize the economic impact of coming into a city like Columbus, it’s probably going to be six or seven millions dollars for the week,” said Melani.
In this current economic climate, that’s a huge impact. Clearly, NAGAAA softball is not just a Sunday afternoon beer league. They’ve taken their league into a different stratosphere than most amateur sports organizations. By running their league in the most professional manner and creating unique partnerships, they’ve successfully created a brand. SPI Marketing took notice of that a few years ago, and was eager to jump on board.
“It’s one of the most unique organizations in the country,” said SPI’s Scott Seitz. “It’s totally unique in that it has a very, very strong local presence.”
Through SPI NAGAAA has been able to forge partnerships with international products like Coors, Miller, Aquafina and Pepsi.
“We’re talking about a very organic, viral marketing opportunity, for these sponsors,” said Seitz, who applauds NAGAAA for making sure partners are treated as such, and not merely as vendors.
The weight that NAGAAA carries cannot be underestimated, which is why the city of Columbus has been such an active participant in bringing in the GSWS, and in ensuring a highly successful event.
“They’ve never allowed beer to be served at the park before,” Aldridge offered up as an example. “We’ve gotten that approved.”
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission has been involved in this since the bid process three years ago, and is taking advantage of every opportunity to showcase what the city has to offer. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will be addressing the group at the Opening Ceremonies, and the Short North entertainment district will host a block party as part of the Closing Festival. Columbus knows how important this event is.
With all those entities pitching in to help, it may serve to relieve some of the stress for those who toil over the GSWS year-round. Melani, Carter and the rest of the NAGAAA board begin planning the subsequent World Series the day after the current one ends. And for those with the host city, like Aldridge, the work starts two years in advance.
“It is a huge undertaking,” stated Melani. “There are five board members who work their tail off and the host city spends countless hours.”
And don’t forget: most of these volunteers are also involved in their local leagues as players, coaches and administrators.
“It is like a second full-time job,” said Aldridge.
But the hard work, sweat and tears are validated by the positive experiences of the two thousand softball players who converge on a city for a week.
“For many people this will be their first world series,” said Carter, who remembers fondly his first GSWS experience in 1995. “And you want it to be the very best it can be for them.” 
Gay Softball World Series
Defending Champions
A Division: Roscoes Coors Light HP2 Toros (Phoenix)
B Division: Spin Cougars (Chicago)
C Division: Sidelines Cyclones (Ft. Lauderdale)
D Division: Players (Nashville)
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