World Baseball Challenge Cries for Help
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 @ 2:31 PM
Mayor Shari Green and WBC Society Chair Don Gowan deliver the news on the future of the WBC – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C. – The World Baseball Challenge has issued a cry for help.
The event is $50 thousand dollars short of it’s operating goal, and if the funds can’t be found within the next 4-5 days, the event will have to be cancelled.
With the backdrop of the ball field, WBC Society Chair, Don Gowan, said the financial crunch is a result of the inclement weather which adversely impacted the 2011 event “It meant we were not able to build a reserve to help fund the event this year. We had a meeting Monday night, and if we are not able to come up with $50 thousand dollars we will have to cancel the event.”
Gowan says sponsorships have been difficult to secure, not because corporations don’t want to be part of the event, “But there are a lot of asks out there, I know, my inbox is filled with them everyday.”
Mayor Shari Green was on hand to put the City’s voice behind the call for corporate sponsors to step forward “There may be some companies that can’t afford to get involved in other events, but there is an opportunity here for them.” The City has donated $10 thousand dollars to the WBC for bleachers.
Tourism Prince George Executive Director Aiden Kelly says the economic spin off of an event such as this cannot be underestimated, “In addition to the hotel stays, restaurants, cab rides, the event helps to improve the perception of Prince George.”
Stressing that the WBC is volunteer driven, Gowan says he got involved with the WBC “Because of its World Class nature. We’ve got the Cuban National team here to play the U.S., that will be a great moment for Canadian Baseball.”
If just 10 companies could come forward with donations of $5,000 each, the WBC can reach its goal. “It would not be fiscally responsible to move forward with the event if we aren’t going to make money or break even” added Gowan.
Mayor Green is counting on Prince George to step up to the plate for the WBC “Many times Prince George has been sid to be a ‘last minute’ community. I hope corporations and business will get the news about the challenge for the WBC and make the call. I’m optimistic P.G. will come through, it always does.”
Anyone wishing to help out, is asked to contact Shawn Rice by email at shawnwbc@telus.net
If the necessary funds are not raised within the next 4-5 days, the WBC Society will call off the August event.
Comments
Hopefu..y this can be achieved
Has anybody seen a financial statement from the last tournament? Where did all the money go?
If these guys are having trouble raising corporate support and the cougars are having the same problems how is it going for the Canada games? Are taxpayers on the hook for lack of corporate support for all these events?
The WBC was fun last time, at least in the beer garden, so I hope it continues.
Sounds like a Tv evangelist that needs 5 million or god was going to take him. Baseball….. Who cares !
Nope… this silliness has to stop.
Two things: whoever has organized this event needs to take a hard, realistic look at their organizational talents… count your money in hand before you spend it !!!
Secondly, your city, (already kicking in ten large they do not have) is taxing you beyond the limit of reasonable tariffs with all the add-ons to the bill that you are going to have to cough up for in a couple of weeks. (not to mention the “card-shark” moves that have already been made on your utility bills.)
And..(okay, so four things)… get your frolicking funds from those who gain… hotels, taxis, cafes, et al… and stop phoning businesses for handouts. Most businesses are already hauling more than their fair share of the freight.
I do not like to be negative…. but mannnnn… you already have the population in a deep hole, hardly daring to hope for daylight, never mind sunshine !!!
You gotta stop … you just gotta !!
V.
How about raffling off city hall’s Nissan Leaf? I’ll be at city hall to make a payment on it July 5th. Whose garage is it parked in now? Taking turns at city hall based on seniority or power?
I feel my wallet getting thinner
Sounds like no one on that Committee understands how to do a proper budget.
If PG can’t sustain it the way you envision it then perhaps you need a new vision. Just because you think it’s good idea doesn’t mean the rest of the City agrees with you.
I’m a huge supporter of sports and sport events but the bills need to be paid.
One-seventh the amount that council decided to pay out to KPMG for the Core Review. But I digress….
This event is an excellent one for the city, and is consistently earning the Prince George baseball community a great reputation internationally. The local organizers and staff bust their butts to put this tournament on and are top notch ambassadors for this part of the province.
It would be a shame to see the WBC go down, and believe me, once its gone, it is finished.
Was but a couple weeks back they were crying for money to rent bleachers for this event. Did the city not hand over the taxpayers money for that item?
Interesting about the Society Chair Don Gowan. On their site it lists Jim Swanson and Lance Brommeland. Although not that important at this time, it begs the question.
Like they had no clue whatsoever they were 50thou short when they asked for the 10thou. As a taxpayer I know what my answer to this crying is.
How about those PG businesses that reap the rewards from this hand out their money to rescue the WBC. Restaurants, hotels, liquor outlets, taxi companies etc, etc, etc.
Maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t know what the WBC is, but I certainly wouldn’t want to donate my money or have government money spent on it without knowing more about it.
Raise the ticket price to cover the short fall and pre-sell the tickets. If there isn’t enough tickets sold to cover costs then I guess there is not enough interest. So then the event should be cancelled.
These events should be paid for by the people going, not taxpayers. Do we see concerts coming to town begging for money? NO. If they don’t pre-sell enough tickets they cancel.
What a cluster ****. You invited all these people to this event without knowing if you had the funds to run it? How embarrassing. Well, at least you have the good sense to have your head bowed in shame.
If it’s all volunteer, what’s the $50k for?
Don’t promise to hold any games (including winter games) if you haven’t raised all the money FIRST! It’s not cool to rely on bailouts from the taxpayers who seem to be always on the hook for all kinds of (in many cases silly) ventures!
It’s like inviting guests to a dance and banquet without having money for food and drinks.
looks like green has put on weight since becoming mayor. Must be good eats at the trough.
This would be a great opportunity for the Casino to step forward and show what a great community supporter it is.
Giving a $50,000.00 donation would be no different that paying out on a win on the slots, the BC Government could also take some credit for doing some community good,.
Harbinger – The Nissan leaf is parked up at the Regional District’s offices right now as part of the sharing agreement between them, the city, UNBC and Northern Health.
Getting back to this story, from the picture it looks like the Mayor and Don are on totally different pages of the book.
How many baseballs does it take to fill an average pothole? I’m so glad I moved out of this dump! Nobody steering the ship can see the iceberg on the port side!
“I’m so glad I moved out of this dump!” . you’re not the only one that’s glad.
Northern Health? Well in that case I will talk to my doctor and see if I can get a prescription to drive it for a while.
If the event has cut it ties with Enbridge, I would gladly attend and contribute. Be careful what you wish for when seeking corporate sponsors. Don’t be afraid to ask the community at large for help. If 1000 people donated $50, you’d get there too! This is what kickstarter campaigns are for.
Posted by: But on June 19 2013 7:20 PM
“I’m so glad I moved out of this dump!” . you’re not the only one that’s glad.
I too am also glad I moved out of that dump. PG that is. I no longer am paying that fat slob tax anymore either. In fact this year my rural tax cost is 247.88 Soon I be 65 then they get just 100 bucks a year. Since I moved out of that dump PG I have saved about 8 to 10 dollars PER DAY. When I lived in that dump I was paying her majesty there in that pic above about 300 dollars a month for her water, tax, garbage pickup I did not need, Snow removal that happened once a season when there was no snow on my street. I aint paying her anything now. Just feel sorry for the poor smuck that bought my house and has to pay her all that dough and get nothing. Looks like her majesty is getting fat at the trough though. I never voted for her and I did live in the dump PG at the time. How could anyone ever be that stupid and vote for her?
OMG it’s mattyc! If you start counting now…. Four more years of the lieberals! You move to Alberta Matty?
No I just moved out of that EXPENSIVE dump called PG. As far as the LIEberals go I really could care less. Just shoes how stupid people are just like when the ammys re elected dubya. It really does not affect my life AT ALL.
Baseball in PG historically does not bring out the big crowds. I only see family and friends of players at the games. No real interest. However when the big events came to town like the Canadian Senior Championships, and the previous WBC tournaments, the numbers were there because of the simple fact that people want to see a world class sporting event and be close to it and the action. There was also a great “down home” feel to these events also that you don’t get in a cold arena. (no offense to hockey). The players themselves liked coming to PG for the same reason. You can say what you like, but baseball is such a great game and it teaches great lessons in life. To be out at the ballpark on a warm summer night with the sights and sounds and the smells of french fries, hotdogs, pine tar on the bat (wood of course) and even the waft of a cigar being smoked by some scout in the stands……its just great. I would hope that maybe the prov of bc would help because this event makes PG look good and in doing so, it makes BC look good.
Looks like Her Majesty really doesn’t like Don Gowen! Does she like anything about the dump of Prince George, other than her big fat pay cheque?? Disgusting
Pull your wallet out Imorge, but leave mine in my pocket!! Baseball or any other sport are already supported by the exceptional facilities supplied by the tax payer! If you can’t get to first base after that, you are in the wrong field!!
Fix the roads, then come begging for money!
You probably don’t even know what baseball is, tax. Spoken like a true apathetic .
Yes I do Imorge, it’s like watching paint dry! Tell me how many folks come to the “Ball Game” oooops, you already told us, family and friends!!! Now there’s a good representative of the tax paying dollars. No home run for you buddy, you’re OUT!!!
I don’t think that you can fault the organizers of the event when it comes to the weather conditions that these folks have had the past few years. I’m not a baseball fan so I dont attend but I know alot of people are. If memeory serves, the last few years have been like the weather this spring. rain on rain on rain. Not a fun time if youre trying to put it all together. I agree with letting hotels and restaurants pick up the slack. On the subject of not supporting it because of Enbridge, what does that have to do with it. If Enbridge wants to part with cash and help this enterprise bring high calibre baseball to PG, let them. You’re not supporting Enbridge with your attendance. Your supporting the event. I guess the issue will be all those cuban players defecting to PG to go and work on the pipelines.
After reading the comments I had to re-read the article to see where the WBC was asking for more taxpayer money.
For everyone that is complaining about their “wallets getting thinner” – READ the article again. The WBC is looking for corporate sponsors, not more tax money.
For the ones that are happy they left “this dump”, go “troll” on a different forum.
This is a great event and I look forward to watching all the games again.
Well, well. Matty pops his deranged head up. Thought he went to meet his maker when the rational people of this province elected the Liberals. Still not taking your meds Matty……tsk..tsk.
too bad mayor green”s expense account topped $20x maybe city could have coughed up a little more $!
Posted by: dow7500 on June 20 2013 8:13 AM
Well, well. Matty pops his deranged head up. Thought he went to meet his maker when the rational people of this province elected the Liberals. Still not taking your meds Matty……tsk..tsk.
Ya dream on you corproate pig lover. Matty aint goin’ nowhere. Wishfull thinking there dow why don’t you go back to your corprorate pig office with all your corporate pig friends, where you can see your corporate pig profits being hoarded by your greedy corporate pigs.
Oink Oink
At least my mom and dad are not
brother and sister matty.
Any thing that is sponsored by Enbridge is not going to get any money from me. No matter how worthwhile.
Hey, I like Matty, he says it as it is!! Can’t spell, but I get his drift! Lol
Give them the money!! We don’t want that fat red headed step child swanson coming down to Kamloops and try and run it. Lived in PG for awhile and have family and friends there and in the sports community there isn’t a more hated person than Swanson!!!!!!!!!!!!! Long time baseball people don’t even support him. Wake up people, Jims EGO (and yes it’s bigger than his belly) is the problem. Get long time Knights coach Ken Wood to run it and you will see a well supported and well run tournament.
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