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‘The Show’ writes a check to western Eagle County rec district

EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado – Steve Russell is feeling better about “The Show” this week. The Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District’s budget is a little healthier, too.

The Show, a giant youth baseball tournament set for late July and early August, was supposed to bring hundreds of teams and thousands of participants to the valley. Every ballfield from Vail to Gypsum was booked, and hotels were waiting for room reservations to start flooding in.

But the reservations never came. Just days before the tournament was to start, organizers put out word that the tournament had been canceled without notice.



In the following days, John Conner, who runs The Show, sent a couple of e-mails apologizing for the cancellation, and pledging to reimburse the downvalley recreation district for its costs.

Russell, like just about everyone else involved in the tournament, refused to hold his breath waiting for that check.

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Last week, Conner met with Russell and gave him a check for roughly $40,000, an amount that covered the district’s cost for field improvements up and down the valley.

“I was very happy,” Russell said. “(Conner) showed up in person and had a check.”

Russell said Conner gave him and other district officials a rundown on what went wrong over the summer.

“I was very pleasantly surprised,” he said.

So, would The Show be welcome back to the valley for another shot at youth baseball glory?

Maybe.

“We’re not shutting any doors,” Russell said. “But only if it’s a viable proposal.

“There’s a lot of bridge-building that’s got to occur,” he added. “We’d need to build in some cushions and protections.”

While The Show’s sudden stop was unpleasant, Russell said he and other organizers still learned some valuable lessons.

“We had partners who really stepped up to help and some who didn’t,” Russell said. “We know that now.”

Business Editor Scott N. Miller can be reached at 970-748-2930 or smiller@vaildaily.com.


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