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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Netherlands to present bid to host MLB games

Just before play-off game 8 of his Hoofdklasse team Vaessen Pioniers on Monday night, acting president Ilja Schinkel of Hoofddorp Pioniers replied positively about realization and schedule of the construction of the new Pioniers stadium and complex south of Hoofddorp.

In March this year the municipality hosted a press conference about the newly to be built stadium and the ambition to open it ceremonially in 2014 with the first official MLB games in Europe. MLB delegate in Europe Clive Russell came from his office in London to the Netherlands, in order to describe the plans in cooperation between Amsterdam and Hoofddorp as “pole position for the Netherlands”.

Yesterday Mr Schinkel announced to Mister Baseball that the Dutch delegation is expected to leave in a week’s time to present the definite bidbook to MLB International. Several experts in American pro ball have helped with suggestions for the composition of the text.

This clearly wasn’t written by somebody who has English as their first language, but basically, it means that a world-class ballpark will be opening in the Netherlands in 2014, and they’d like to have a series of MLB regular season games there to open it.

Gamingboy Posted: August 31, 2011 at 04:17 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: international

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1. Steve Treder Posted: August 31, 2011 at 07:46 PM (#3913643)

The SABR convention SO needs to be in Amsterdam.

2. Greg (U)K Posted: August 31, 2011 at 07:49 PM (#3913646)

This would be amazing! I'm there.

3. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: August 31, 2011 at 07:51 PM (#3913649)

This would be pretty great. Games in Italy wouldn't be far behind, no?

4. Flynn Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:16 PM (#3913683)

If this happens I would be there. I love Holland.

It's good as well to see MLB drop the idea of games in the UK for Holland. Baseball's not big in Holland, but almost all decent-sized towns have a local club with their own field, which makes it the European leader by far.

5. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:21 PM (#3913694)

That'd be pretty cool. Should have Blyleven throw out the first pitch.

6. Tripon Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:27 PM (#3913702)

The two teams should be the A's and Royals.

7. Don Geovany Soto (chris h.) Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:29 PM (#3913705)

Geovany Soto is also in favor of this.

8. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:32 PM (#3913710)

The two teams should be the A's and Royals.

I know you snark, but, yes please.

9. Flynn Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:41 PM (#3913718)

The Giants should be there. For Lincecum's benefit and for the orange. If there's any group of people who can outdo Orange Fridays it's the Dutch.

10. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: August 31, 2011 at 08:51 PM (#3913733)

What an awesome idea! Shouldn't be too hard to trick the wife into a dutch vacation...

11. Greg Franklin Posted: August 31, 2011 at 09:08 PM (#3913751)

I hope this guy realizes Bud Selig is no Platini, Rogge, or Samaranch. First, you don't "bid" to host MLB games. Second, Bud is not a corrupt fascist.

12. Accent Shallow Posted: August 31, 2011 at 09:14 PM (#3913760)

. Second, Bud is not a corrupt fascist

Strongly disagree.

13. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: August 31, 2011 at 09:50 PM (#3913789)

The SABR convention SO needs to be in Amsterdam.

What's so different about the inside of a hotel conference room in Amsterdam?

14. 'Spos Posted: September 01, 2011 at 12:39 AM (#3914019)

If there's any group of people who can outdo Orange Fridays it's the Dutch.

There are still a few dozen Orioles fans. I think they might compete on percentages, no?

15. The Keith Law Blog Blah Blah (battlekow) Posted: September 01, 2011 at 01:37 AM (#3914127)

Honk if you love Dutch baseball.

16. Gamingboy Posted: September 01, 2011 at 03:01 AM (#3914258)

Honk if you love Dutch baseball.

Primey.

17. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: September 01, 2011 at 03:30 AM (#3914269)

I'm holding out for games in Fiji.

18. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: September 01, 2011 at 04:14 AM (#3914281)

Prince Fielder, looking bored, sitting in a window, wearing a peekaboo negligee. Make this image come true.

19. Steve Treder Posted: September 01, 2011 at 04:14 AM (#3914283)

What's so different about the inside of a hotel conference room in Amsterdam?

So, wait, they do something in the hotel conference rooms during SABR conventions?

Who knew?

20. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: September 01, 2011 at 04:21 AM (#3914286)

Strongly disagree.

Fine. He's a corrupt socialist.

21. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: September 01, 2011 at 05:52 AM (#3914300)

Bud Selig's level of corruption is rookie ball compared to FIFA.

I'd enjoy watching an afternoon EST/evening CET game from the Netherlands- especially if they have Bert Blyleven announcing. I always enjoyed his curmudgeonly nature when I lived in Minneapolis.

As for the UK- well... they own all those baseball bats now, they should learn how to play! It's not that dissimilar from cricket, guys!

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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Netherlands to present bid to host MLB games

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