JOHNSTOWN, Pa (WJAC) — Organizers for the 2020 AAABA Tournament announced Thursday that the event has been cancelled due to uncertainty and concern regarding the current virus crisis
The annual tournament was scheduled to be held from August 3rd to the 9th, according to the AAABA website.
"It is with deep regret that I, along with the Johnstown Oldtimers Board of Directors, announce the cancellation of the 76th annual All American Amateur Baseball Association Tournament scheduled in August 2020," said George Arcurio III, president of the Johnstown Oldtimers Baseball Association.
"As everybody is aware, the AAABA Tournament is a Johnstown and national tradition. So after 47 years with AAABA, it breaks my heart to cancel this year’s tournament."
Arcurio explained that the cost of the tournament, as well as issues of housing and public safety, contributed to the decision.
His explanation is outlined below:
- This is the only free tournament in the country for 16 teams from all over the United States to participate. The Johnstown Oldtimers raise the funds to pay for all rooms, meals and all expenses.
- The health and well-being of all 320 players, coaches, managers, as well as all volunteers and fans at eight different locations for a week is essential. With the current pandemic, along with the social distancing, makes it virtually impossible to have events and games for one week in August.
- With the virus spread throughout the country, there is no guarantee that the national franchises will have a regular season and league. As of this press release, one franchise has canceled its season and it appears that three more will fall in line soon.
- Housing as of now is a problem if UPJ is unable to open along with the local hotels we use. There will be a shortfall of housing for everybody. Because of social distancing, we will not be able to house four players per room, as we have for 75 years.
- Restaurants, along with the three major hotels we use, will not be able to feed our teams. This creates a large problem.
- With the Pasquerilla Conference Center closed we can’t have our annual Hall of Fame Banquet. Also, because of the pandemic we have not been able to get a “big name speaker.”
- Our annual players banquet, Sunday night before the tournament, cannot be held because the 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial has been closed and we would be in violation of social distancing.
- With high schools and colleges closed, there is no guarantee that we will have enough fields to play our games.
- Without our AAABA volunteers and AAABA Ambassadors from a three-county area, we can’t go out into the business communities and sell tickets and advertisements. With the businesses closed this creates a huge financial loss, and with most places having financial difficulty, how can we impose on them to donate money when they can’t meet their payroll or pay their bills?
- After communicating with our major sponsors, it has been determined that because of the pandemic, the Johnstown Oldtimers will have a shortfall of funds in the amount of $30,000 to $40,000 before we enter into the tournament. With businesses closed many have NO OPERATING CAPITAL, and cannot financially assist us this year.
Arcurio also outlined some of the major expenses that the association covers on an annual basis:
Organizers say that plans for the 2021 AAABA Tournament are already being discussed.
As of now, the local Johnstown Collegiate Baseball League remains on as scheduled with the goal of crowning a league champion still in place. For a closer look at the JCBL and the 2021 AAABA Tournamen't outlook, check out the video below:
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ6OlvLPA0miaqKakmru1e5FpaWllkZauo62Mraauqp6Wuqa602aamqaTmrmtscNmm66dXam8bsHNnJyrrJGeu7XFjKipoJmensemvtJmqpqx