The Ripken ExperienceMyrtle Beach, SC

Patrick Burns

Contents

• The facility• Tournaments• Internship duties• Experiences• Suggestions

• Ripken Baseball– Headquarters in Aberdeen, MD– Main facility is Myrtle Beach location• Opened in 2006• 8 fields • FieldTurf

Fields

• Named/modeled after old ballparks– Ebbets Field (New York)– Polo Grounds (New York)– Griffith Field (Washington D.C.)– Duncan Field (Spartanburg, SC)– Navin Field (Tiger Stadium – Detroit)– Westside Grounds (Chicago) – Huntington Park (Boston) – Shibe Park (Philadelphia)

Tournaments

• Spring, summer, & fall– Summer is busiest time• Ten consecutive ‘week-long’ tournaments

– Different age groups– Range from 10s to 16s – Competes with Cooperstown Dreams Park

Tournament Operations Intern• Acted as a Tournament Official– Bulk of the internship

• Helped ensure tournament efficiency • Worked with the grounds crew• Assisted main staff with various tasks

• Opening Ceremonies– Sundays – Everyone is at facility– Various duties

Tournament Official• Operated scoreboard (if necessary)• Announced player names• Music (walk-up & between innings)• Trivia• Promoting sponsors • Managing online website • Keeping track of time– 2 hour time limit (Mon – Wed)

• The ‘authority’

Experience

• Open to travel • Out of comfort zone– Getting on the microphone– Constant interaction with strangers

• Services and hospitality– Vacation time for families

• Meet people from all over– Interns and teams – Teams from Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin

Islands

Improvements?

• Tournaments– Very well organized and run

• Intern experience– Learn more about the business aspect of the

facility – Better use of social media

Advice

• Do what interests you• Don’t be afraid to get out of comfort zone• Teamwork Online • No regrets– Don’t look back and wonder “What if?” – Big factor in my choice to intern at Ripken – Enjoyed my summer

Thank You!

Questions?