World series in Mexicali seen as benefit to Yuma, too

Major league baseball is coming to Mexicali with the 51st annual Caribbean Series in February.

It is expected to bring major league baseball players from both sides of the border, more than 15,000 people and $16 million in financial benefits.

And Yuma will share a piece of that action.

Many of those visitors and the dollars they're expected to spend will spill over to Yuma, Mayor Larry Nelson noted during a news conference in Yuma Wednesday to announce the upcoming event.

"What a tremendous opportunity this is for the entire area. This will be beneficial for all of us."

It's a tribute, he said, to the sister city relationship Yuma has enjoyed with Mexicali over the years.

Originally, organizers of the Latino world series had asked that 2,000 hotel rooms in Yuma be set aside for the sporting event to be held Feb. 2-9 at the Nido del los Aguilas Stadium (the home for the Eagles, the Mexicali tripe AAA baseball team) in Mexicali, said Bob Ingram, executive director of the Yuma Visitors Bureau.

However, that number was considered unrealistic given that the series is occurring during the busiest time of the year for Yuma-area hotels, he said.

"So we committed to 1,000," Ingram said. To date, nearly that number has already been set aside. More rooms may become available as the time draws closer with the opening in the next few months of four more hotels, he added.

The visitors also are expected to patronize Yuma's restaurants, shop in the shopping centers, perhaps play some golf, go fishing, take a river tour or squeeze in a visit to the area's museums and state parks, Ingram said.

The need for busing to get the visitors back and forth also presents an opportunity for area bus companies, he said.

"We're talking about 3,000 to 4,000 people. They would rather have mass transit than add to the traffic and parking congestion. That's a lot of buses."

It also would be easier to get that many through the international ports by mass transit, he noted.

"What a wonderful opportunity," said Rafael Torres, general manager of the Ramada. "More than 10,000 people will be coming from a lot of countries and will spend a lot of money."

In the process, the Yuma hospitality industry will have the opportunity to showcase the area's hotels, restaurants, shopping and attractions, Torres said.

"If we give really good service - and we will - they may come back. And they'll spread good comments about us to others."

Torres is excited for another reason, as well. A native of Mexicali, he is thrilled the city was selected for the first time to host the world series.

"This is really competitive, major-league-quality baseball," said Dio Alberto Murillo, owner of the Eagles.

The series is the equivalent of the American World Series and will feature many U.S. major league players who play for Latino teams during the winter - such players as Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada and Red Sox first baseman David Ortiz.

To make sure they will have a world-series-quality playing field, the city of Yuma has been sending its turf specialists to Mexicali to help get the field in top shape, said Mark Watson, Yuma city administrator.

"We're so proud to be able to help you and assist you with this event," Watson said, addressing the delegation from Mexicali that attended Wednesday's news conference.

The feeling was mutual.

"We're very excited and happy to include Yuma," Mexicali Mayor Roldofo Valdez Gutierrez said through a translator. "We don't have the capacity and when we don't, we reach out to our friends for help."

Hopefully, he said, the Caribbean Series will serve as a model for other major events in the future.

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MORE INFO

A list of hotels with room available for the Caribbean Series can be found on the Yuma Visitors Bureau Web site at visityuma.com.

Tickets for the baseball games can be purchased online through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.mx.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.