Big Expansion Planned for Ripken | Sports Destination Management

Big Expansion Planned for Ripken

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May 24, 2022

Coming off the largest summer in company history and hosting over 5,000 teams and 250,000 guests this year, Ripken Baseball is excited to announce its summer 2022 schedule. Known for providing the best baseball experience in youth sports with permanent facilities in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Maryland, Ripken Baseball will embark on their first multi-city tour through their newly added Ripken Select Tournaments. For the first time in more than 20 years, these tournaments will be accessible to baseball teams in multiple markets outside of their own Ripken Baseball facilities. 

The Ripken Select Tournaments were first introduced in 2021 at a single location in Round Rock, Texas, through a 60+ team event in partnership with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment.  Based on demand, the Ripken Select Tournaments will expand to Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and include an additional stop in Texas.

In the inaugural multi-city tour, each Ripken Select Tournament destination keeps in mind the formula that makes The Ripken Experience™ so special. Combining fields and experiences that make every ballplayer feel like a Big Leaguer, destinations packed with countless entertainment options creating lifelong family memories, and a staff that makes you feel at home from the first pitch. The best experience in youth sports will be felt at each Ripken Select Tournament across the country.

“Behind every decision at Ripken Baseball, our focus remains a customer experience first mindset, on and off the field,” explained Mike Kenney, Executive Vice President of Ripken Baseball. “We believe that if we can provide Big League experiences that create lifelong memories to as many players, coaches, and parents as we can, that we’ll be able to help them enjoy and play the game for as long as possible.”

The summer tour will feature five stops from June to July, with each stop having one dedicated week-long event. Although each destination will provide its own unique local market experience and family entertainment options, every tournament will provide a consistent Big-League Experience featuring professional facilities, a tournament appearance by a former Major Leaguer, opening ceremonies and skills competitions, and player announcements & walk-up music to make every at-bat unforgettable.

Ripken Select Tournament Dates:

  • June 5 – 10, 2022 – Panama City Beach, Florida; Panama City Beach Sports Complex
  • June 12 – 17, 2022 – Gilbert, Arizona; Cactus Yards
  • June 19 – 24, 2022 – Mansfield, Texas; Big League Dreams Mansfield
  • July 10 – 15, 2022 – Aurora, Illinois; Stuart Sports Complex
  • July 17 – 22, 2022 – Round Rock, Texas; Old Settlers Park

Ripken Select Tournaments are part of the company’s innovation strategy to enhance the player and team experience. Just recently the company announced a partnership with LeagueApps as their Official Technology Partner, which will allow them to collaborate in providing best in class solutions for event registration, communication, advanced data security, and future integrations to elevate the player and coach experience. These integrations will look to work with Ripken Baseball’s progressive software partners, including, but not limited to; National Sports ID, the first-ever baseball age verification software to ensure a fair and safe playing field, and RallyUp, a fundraising platform focused on providing unforgettable fundraising experiences and making The Ripken Experience more accessible to current and new teams.Ripken Baseball’s focus to enhance brand partnerships continues with its earlier addition of 3N2 Sports and DOME Headwear as the official apparel brands providing custom high performance baseball apparel for current and future athletes as well as their families.

To learn more about additional 2022 Ripken Select Tournament locations and the latest with Ripken Baseball, visit www.ripkenbaseball.com or give a teammate a call at 410-306-7575 and if you have interest in hosting a Ripken Select Tournament in 2023, please contact hraburn@ripkenbaseball.com.

About Ripken Baseball:

Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches and families together through its Big-League Experiences, while teaching the values of the game, and how to play it the right way – the Ripken Way. Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through on-site tournaments, camps and spring training hosted at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience™Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience™Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and The Ripken Experience™Pigeon Forge (Tennessee).

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