Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournaments

[lmathews19]

You mean to tell me that CDP doesn't pay the umpires a penny? What a joke! The kind of money they make and the kind of tournament that is, they ought to pay above the going rate. I've been asked to umpire the Perfect Game national tournament in East Cobb and they pay $50 a game, about $10 more than what I get locally. If they don't pay, don't waste your time or money. I don't care if you get free crap or all expenses paid for, you'll end up losing money. I'm amazed they even get anybody to umpire that tournament, at least anybody of decent quality.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Just like the Little League World Series, which makes a boatload of money in TV revenues and merchandising, but the umpires have to volunteer their time. It is supposed to be a great honor to umpire these CDP games. They would have to honor me with some cash. Aside from the one or two scheduled scrimmages per year that our association tosses in for free to each High School, I have never worked a game for free, and it would take more than a couple of shirts and a jacket to get me to start now.

[3appleshigh]

How about ROOM AND BOARD?? PLUS THE MERCH.?? Don't forget that that is included as well.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by 3appleshigh

How about ROOM AND BOARD?? PLUS THE MERCH.?? Don't forget that that is included as well.

2 shirts and a supposedly poor quality hat and poor quality ball bag?

[Gaff]

And don't forget the free ticket to the Hall of Fame.

[lmathews19]

It's still a waste if you ask me. Even if you did have to pay for room and board and all that crap, what would that amount up to...about $60 or $70 a day? Let's say you do 3-4 games a day and get $40 a game, that $120-$160, you'd still be coming out ahead. I don't care if it's the freakin MLB world series, if you don't pay me, I'm not umpiring...period. Time is money, and if I'm going to volunteer my time, then you better give me some freakin money. It's a 5 or 6 day tournament, so even if they paid for all expenses or whatever and gave me say $300 or $400, then I would do it. I'm not gonna work and not get paid, I have a marriage to prepare for and she wouldn't like it if I took a little vacation to Cooperstown and worked all week and didn't bring home any dough.

[seioaump]

When you attend clinics or camps, do you get paid to do that. No, you normally have to pay a fee to go, then your room and board and other expenses. In the past two years when I've gone, there were at least 3 guys who had attended a high level clinic or attend pro school. As we all know, most guys are willing to share their knowledge. I must say that I've learned a lot and developed because of my attendance at CDP.

Here is my deal this year...

I have a team paying me $300 for travel and such. Then our association is giving us money $175 on top of that. So, there is no way that I'll lose any money while there. I will buy a few items in town and go out for supper or drinks every night and not lose anything. I have vacation time here at my job, so I will still be making my normal money!

It is a free trip away from the stress of normal every day life!

[voiceoflg]

Originally Posted by lmathews19

Time is money, and if I'm going to volunteer my time, then you better give me some freakin money.