MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mountaineer fans are ready for Omaha and it looks like Omaha is ready to host a weekend of baseball and the opportunity to show off their city.
“As soon as we qualified for the College World Series, fans wanted to know what activities we had planned, what is the ticket situation, and what’s easiest way to get to Omaha?” WVU Alumni Association CEO Kevin Berry said during an appearance Wednesday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
The Mountaineer baseball team traveling party arrived in Nebraska Wednesday afternoon. The team will practice Thursday, spend some time with the media, and then get set to battle Troy in the opening game of the CWS Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
Berry said there will be places for Mountaineer fans to gather. He said the alumni association is working with other organizations in a partnership with a sports bar in Omaha. Berry said activities will start at the Let it Fly Sports Bar three hours before each Mountaineer game.
“This is a partnership between the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC), Gold and Blue Enterprises, and the WVU Alumni Association, and the Let it Fly Sports Bar will be the home for Mountaineers while we’re there.”
Omaha loves college baseball
Omaha knows how to host the College World Series. It’s been the host city since 1950.
Visit Omaha Executive Director Jasmyn Goodwin said when fans aren’t busy with baseball, they can see the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium that is considered to be the top in the nation. The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and regular adult admission is $33.95.
“We’ve got the world’s largest indoor desert, the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, and the nation’s largest indoor rainforest,” Goodwin said. “It is 260 acres with 17,000 animals from across the globe.”
In the downtown area there are several bars, eateries, and shops within walking distance of Charles Schwab Field where the games are played. Also within walking distance is a riverfront park with views and recreation opportunities.
“We have riverfront views, we have a skate ribbon, and we have a beautiful pier so you can walk out and stand out over the Missouri River,” Goodwin said. “It’s great for photo ops; I know everybody likes a photo op.”
Goodwin said it’s relatively easy to get around the city and understand the traditional grid address system. But, she said, ongoing construction projects in the city and a streetcar project downtown could slow your travel.
“It’s pretty easy to get around Omaha because our city is set up on a perfect grid so it makes traveling around very easy,” Goodwin said. “I will say we are in the middle of a development boom, so we have quite a bit of construction going on.”