World-class tournament destination is primed for tournament play to soon begin
Ballparks across the country have been silent this baseball season as COVID-19 has forced fans of the National Pastime to stay home. But as states continue to re-open, baseball’s return in numerous forms grows closer by the day. Ballparks of America in Branson, Missouri, a 70-acre world-class baseball tournament destination for 9 to 14-year-olds, is preparing for those brighter days with a pair of announcements.
With the first summer tournament only a few weeks away, BOA is poised to bring in the first wave of teams for the 2020 summer baseball season. The Ballparks of America facility is operated by Sports Facilities Management (SFM), who has been leading preparations for the first tournament of the summer. Those preparations include putting in additional cleaning, social distancing, and potential screening policies and safety procedures to protect players, visitors, and employees.
New GM Hired
BOA also announced it hired Scott Bailes to be the new general manager for the facility. Bailes debuted in the major leagues during the 1986 season with the Cleveland Indians and his major league career spanned nearly 10 seasons, with stops in Cleveland, California and Texas. Upon retirement, he founded Sports World, an indoor sports training facility while serving a four-year term as a city councilman and serving on the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. Bailes worked with the Cardinals organization for eight seasons as director of development and continues today as the color commentator on all television broadcasts.
“With Scott Bailes’ background we knew he would be a great fit,” said Lori Moore, account executive of SFM. “He has had a tremendous influence in his various roles not only as a professional baseball player but also as a facility operator, entrepreneur and public servant. He is a great addition to the SFM team and as general manager will be a great asset for Ballparks of America.”
Bailes is coming on board just in time to help kick off the 2020 baseball season in the Ozarks, and he will be a part of an extended season. BOA recently announced new events in August and September as a direct result of the delayed start to the baseball season and increased customer demand. The BOA team is currently registering teams for the remaining slots in those tournaments. Because of its market influence as a national sports destination, BOA is also positioned to be a leader in the post-COVID-19 recovery and rebound for Branson, bringing in new and repeat visitors to one of America’s favorite family destinations.
“I am honored to work for SFM and to join the Ballparks team,” Bailes said. “I look forward to bringing my expertise and leadership to the complex so we can offer visitors an exceptional experience on the field and off. Our team at Ballparks of America looks forward to bringing back baseball and are expecting a great season.”
Scott Bailes
Located in Branson, Missouri, Ballparks of America is an international baseball tournament destination. Its signature features are its on-campus stay and play suites and its two-thirds scale replicas of five classic American ballparks, complete with the dimensions and elements that make each of these iconic stadiums unique. Ballparks of America is a member of the SFM Network, the nation’s largest and fastest growing network of sports facilities and is operated by the industry-leader in outsourced operations, Sports Facilities Management. Learn more or register for your next tournament: www.ballparksofamerica.com.
