Brandon lands U17 softball nationals in 2027

Another national event is returning to Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex in 2027, with Softball Canada announcing that Brandon won the right to host the under-17 women’s championship.

The complex hosted the U15 national championship in 2023, and the inaugural U13 western Canadian boys and girls championship in 2024. Since officially opening in 2017, it’s also held a multitude of provincial events and the growing Wheat City Classic tournament each summer.

Bruce Luebke submitted the bid on Oct. 15, noting he applied for either the U15 or U17 girls event. Once a first bid is received by Softball Canada, any competing bids have 30 days to submit.

“It was always our intent to put in for 2027 after we were unsuccessful in 2026,” said Luebke, who added this year’s bid was essentially just fine-tuning some of the details on last year’s attempt. “We just felt like after 2023, we were a prime candidate to host another one. We’re pretty happy we’re going to get that opportunity.”

The U17 championship last summer drew 24 teams to Warman, Sask., so it is a significant undertaking.

The 2023 tournament in Brandon resulted in 1,921 room nights booked at local hotels and an estimated economic impact of $1 million. The organizing committee’s budget was $115,000.

Cam Hotel is the construction chair on the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex’s committee.

“It’s incredible,” Hotel said. “It brings a ton of people out and exposes the whole diamond and the city to everybody. That’s what we live and strive for.

“At the end of the day, if we’re not putting on tournaments and making the facility useful, then why are we there? It’s being used exactly what it was meant for.

“When those nationals are on, that place is packed with people and I’m smiling from ear to ear.”

Luebke learned the bid was successful a couple of weeks, although the announcement was held off until the hosting agreements were officially signed.

A committee will be assembled next spring, with the in-depth planning beginning next fall.

“Because we’ve done one recently, I don’t think we need to spend a year and a half planning,” Luebke said. “I think we have the basic stuff already done. We know what we’re doing.”

Softball Canada hosts 10 national events every summer, which include U15 and U17 men and women’s playdowns, U19 women, U20 men, U23 men, women, men and master men, and men and women’s slo-pitch.

The only other 2027 events that have been awarded so far are the U15 women’s championship in Calgary on the same dates, and the men and women’s slo-pitch playdowns in Leduc, Alta., from Aug. 8 to 14.

Six host sites still have to be determined, with one decision pending.

Meanwhile, the 2026 playdowns are spread across the country from Fredericton, N.B., to Surrey, B.C., with other events in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The U17 event is set for Calgary from July 29 to Aug. 2.

TRACK RECORD

The 2023 national event in Brandon may be best remembered for the incredible work by volunteers to keep it on track.

With 24 teams playing 60 round-robin games from Wednesday to Friday — plus 24 playoff games on the weekend — the organizers had to work around extensive rain on Thursday and Sunday morning, with showers on Friday and Saturday as well.

In 2024, Brandon was handed the first-ever U13 girls’ and boys’ western Canadian championships, with Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia each sending three girls’ teams. There were also five boys’ teams in action.

Rain played a factor once again, with Sunday’s championship games nearly cancelled. Instead they were pushed back and eventually played.

Luebke has existing relationships with many of Softball Canada staff and board members, and thinks at this point they understand what the city is capable of when called upon.

“I think 2023 was a bit of a learning experience as far as what goes on at a Canadian championship as opposed to a western or provincial,” Luebke said. “Overall, these events are somewhat similar in terms of once you get into them.

“What I’ve said to others now when they come to us for advice on success at hosting, you have to make the experience is one that the players will not forget. When you go into the event, that’s the most important thing.

“It’s about the players, not the hosts or the parents or anything else.”

Since 2023, the additions at the complex include a permanent batting cage, new sound systems, 100-by-100 tarp for the Boston Pizza diamond, shade structures, a second maintenance garage and foam padding on the backstops.

“All those things continue to improve the venue you’re hosting these events, and really makes it an attractive alternative for all kinds tournaments and events, but particularly one as big as Softball Canada championship,” Luebke said. “Kudos to everyone who has benefited from involved in making it happen.”

The facility has 20 months to work with, but is already busy with a number of projects. Electronic scoreboards are being installed on the two diamonds that don’t have them, a task that will be completed in the spring.

They also added a layer of asphalt millings to the parking lot to cut down on the dust.

The long-range plans include putting lights on the UCT diamond, similar to what’s already on the Boston Pizza diamond. It’s a job that could potentially be finished by 2027.

Hotel is excited to share it with visitors.

“It’s fantastic to able to showcase the diamonds and what Brandon can do for the rest of Canada and all the ball teams,” Hotel said. “It’s a great honour to have them come and spend a week with us out here and see what happens on the Prairies.”

It will be a little different than last time because U15 is the first age group that nationals are hosted in, so it was new for many of the players.

At U17, Luebke noted many will probably have been to a nationals, so it’s important to find new ways to stand out. That may include a wildly successful idea borrowed from the Wheat City Classic, a skills competition.

Visiting coaches were quick to mention the large group of volunteers in 2023, with the parent group of the host Westman Magic playing a leading role. Luebke is hoping to receive a similar outpouring of support from the 2027 Magic hosts for the tournament, which will require more than 100 helpers.

While Luebke is happy to have that experience to draw on, he also wants to see lots of new faces to provide the next generation of key volunteers.

“Any time you’re hosting something like this, you’re providing guidance to people but you want them to take control of their are and make it their own,” Luebke said. “We have a lot of framework in place from 2023 on how to do things, and maybe in some ways how not to do things.

“We had a great group in 2023 and I hope a lot of them will come back but it’s also an opportunity for some others to get involved and learn the ropes.That’s how you create the opportunity for these kinds of events to continue to come back.”

pbergson@brandonsun.com