The Israel National Team’s unprecedented success at the World Baseball Classic last month has set the stage for a new ballpark to be born in the country, as baseball in the country is growing in demand and awareness.
Plans for the first-ever baseball stadium and multi-diamond complex in Beit Shemesh, located near Jerusalem, has now become a reality thanks for a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $US 11,000 of $US 850,000 budgeted for construction.
Israel Baseball officials intend to move quickly on development projects to capitalise on baseball’s momentum in the country.
Through the Jewish Baseball Fund, plans have been launched to construct baseball facilities throughout the country, which will help spread the bat-and-ball sport to the next generation of Israeli athletes.
Municipalities have also shown support, including Beit Shemesh who donated land for the complex that will house one regulation sized field, two youth fields, batting cages, lights and stands. The remaining funds will be raised through private donations such as the crowd funding initiative.
Multiple baseball projects are in the pipeline in Israel. Last February, a historic groundbreaking ceremony took place in Beit Shemesh.
Israel’s 6th Place finish in the World Baseball Classic lifted the nation to a historical high in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings, at No 19.
“The National Team product is one of the key drivers in any sport to attract new athletes and fans,” said Masaru Yokoo, WBSC Head of Global Marketing for Baseball. “And WBSC is very pleased to see WBSC-sanctioned competitions having an increasingly positive impact toward our globalisation and Olympic objectives.”
