TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After successfully hosting and winning the NCAA Baseball Regional Tournament, ISU will now travel to Texas for the Super Regionals, and ISU officials are reacting to the news.
ISU Athletics issued a statement regarding the location after the public learned Terre Haute would be unable to host the next stage of postseason baseball. While ISU President Dr. Deborah Curtis also released a statement:
Thank you to our community, fans, and everyone who supported the Indiana State University baseball team. The energy at Bob Warn Field during the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and NCAA Regional was extraordinary.
In regard to the NCAA Super Regional, our stance has been if we can’t provide an exceptional experience to the fans traveling into our community for this event, we aren’t going to host. Based on current circumstances, we’ve made the difficult decision to forgo being a host site.
We are proud of our baseball team as they continue to make history, and we wish them the best of luck this weekend.
To the fans of TCU, thank you for your support of the Indiana Special Olympics. Over $23,000 from 500 donors across 36 states has been raised so far for the 2023 Summer Games; what a class act demonstrated by your incredible fans.
ISU President Dr. Deborah Curtis
Tuesday, ISU Athletic Director Sherard Clinkscales spoke with members of the media during a news conference. That conference has concluded, a replay of the comments has been attached to this story.
“There are a variety of factors that come into play with the competition for resources and staff,” the statement reads. “With the potential for multiple large-scale events occurring in the area simultaneously and due to NCAA limitations on hotel distance from the field, there is a lack of hotel space to handle the accommodations required to house the visiting team, the support staff for the games, and the ESPN production crew that would be in attendance.”
The other large-scale event being referenced is the Indiana Special Olympics 2023 Summer Games, which are coming to Terre Haute June 9-11.
The annual event brings in thousands of athletes along with their families, as well as numerous volunteers, and will utilize elements of Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s campuses.
ISU’s release goes on to say personnel is a second factor to consider with the university having just hosted the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament as well as the NCAA Regional tournament in back-to-back weeks.
“Keeping additional staff available that are not already working with Special Olympics has affected our potential workforce for another large-scale operation.”
ISU officials stressed that the city and the university have had a long-standing relationship with Special Olympics, and welcomed the event to the community this weekend. As well as thanking fans, supporters and the community for the outpouring of support during the Terre Haute Regional.
“As such, our baseball team will be heading on the road this weekend for the Super Regionals. We look forward to you making the trip and cheering on the Sycamores as they continue postseason play on the #RoadToOmaha,” the statement ends.
Looking ahead to the games in Fort Worth, Texas, ticket information can be found online here. ISU will take on TCU Friday at 5 p.m.
