by Pim van Nes
With a new logo and a name reshuffle, Honkbal Week Haarlem wants to bring back a six teams schedule next year. On Thursday tournament president Frits Mulder and his board received commercial sponsors, municipality representatives and journalists in Hotel Van der Valk – Haarlem Zuid. They were provided with update information about work in progress towards the 28th edition of the 55 years old baseball event.
With Honkbal Week invitations to Chinese Taipei, Australia, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and most popular opponent Italy still pending a definite answer from their respective federation, Haarlem was proud to announce the official confirmation by USA and Japan. USA will delegate a national selection of NJCAA college players and Japan an All Star team from their Big 6 college competition. Home team the Netherlands will be a composition of players selected from national Hoofdklasse clubs, as the high number of players in foreign leagues are not supposed to be available during the 10-day Haarlem tournament: 15 thru 24 July 2016.
The Netherlands participated in all previous 27 editions and 11 times Chinese Taipei showed their excellent defensive plays in the old and renovated Pim Mulier stadium. European rival Italy traveled to Haarlem in 1968, 1972, 2000 and 2004, answering to polls among the fans in baseball city Haarlem, but this year their federation FIBS has not yet given news about the conveniency of the Azzurri team in July next year. Australia appeared three times: 1978, 1992 and third time 1998 was their best time with a second spot behind Cuba. Puerto Rico after 1992 came for a second time to Haarlem in 2012 and finished second on finale Sunday. Dominican Republic would debut in Honkbal Week, if they can accept the 2016 invitation.
Several sponsors attended the sparkling presentation last evening, but there are more sponsor boxes available on the top floor of Pim Mulier stadium in Haarlem. Apart from the usual full time rental for groups up to 17 persons per game, new parties, interested in hosting own staff or business relations with drinks and snacks in front of an international baseball game, can try this occasion by renting such a top location at € 2,000 for two days or € 1,250 for one day.
For more information about catering and exposure in the stadium at 15 minutes from Schiphol international airport of Amsterdam: hans.kroes@honkbalweek.nl.