Ballparks National — Local services in Missouri

So, for the second time in 3 weeks, Ballparks National has kicked softball from the nice turf to an average to below average city parks grass and dirt field. I don't have to drive all the way to Lake of the Ozarks to play on grass/dirt fields.

If you are a softball team enter events cautiously. They charge $400 for events and you find out days before that Baseball is WAY MORE IMPORTANT. Oh, and they don't give you any money back when you get booted from their nice facility and the turf fields, you get a credit for a tournament in the future where you can register, only to get booted once again.

If you get lucky and there aren't as many baseball teams registered for a particular weekend and you actually get to play on their fields they are beautiful..however, there is spotty to no cell service and their onsite WiFi isn't good enough let you stream your games...but your family can view the BPN live stream for $30. They are about making money period. Most businesses are, but they should adjust their advertising, especially for softball, to say All Turf (if your lucky and baseball teams take a weekend off).

REVIEW UPDATE

So in response to their response below. I have removed the breast cancer comments as your point is valid. Men certainly can be affected by breast cancer but if and when I see a pink out tournament I think softball and not baseball.

Whatever Internet you have is strong enough to ensure people who can't attend can pay for your steaming service. I guess the benefit of being elsewhere is we can stream our games for free.

A for profit business can also focus on customers. I know you state this has only happened two times but it has affected me and my daughter both of those times (in a 3 week period...And last time 12U and 14U were moved off site). This event has been listed as SOLD OUT for weeks yet we only find out we aren't playing at BPN today. Last time we found out the week of as well and agreed to play on Saturday so we could stay at BPN. When your only option is play on dirt or get a refund and don't play with little to no time to find somewhere else seems like an intentional move done to protect your financial interest.

A bit of customer service advice, or something to consider so this doesn't happen a 3rd time, and with your longevity I would think you would know by now, is how many teams you can register and keep your event at BPN. When you hit that number you start a waiting list instead of overselling. Then nobody has to be "disappointed".

Also, you mention not busting brackets but the 12U, who was moved, did indeed have their bracket busted. Everyone gets 3 pool games and only the top 2 play to determine the winner. That isn't a bracket, that is one championship game. And, if you are in pool a you get to wait around for 5 hours until pool B finishes for your...

My daughters have played at BPN with their travel softball teams every season since it opened 3 years ago. There are definitely pros and cons, but overall it is a nice facility with turf fields that is close to home. I do think the folks at BPN continue to try to make improvements and some of those have been positive (e.g. paved road), though I wish they wouldn't have reduced the number of USSSA softball events in Summer 2024. Given all the pros and cons, I probably would rather play at BPN than other facilities such as Monett, MO (due to the distance and their own scheduling and communication issues). My main issue with BPN, and something I really wish they would fix that I think would be a game changer for them with a lot of people, is the internet/Wi-Fi signal is terrible at each field. I can barely run GameChanger (often times I cannot connect to score games, and definitely cannot load completed game details, box scores, etc.) and I CANNOT stream video of our games at all. I tried to stream multiple times and it does not work. The Wi-Fi at the main concession stand building works fine, so it seems the routers/Wi-Fi capabilities need to be strengthened and extended to the individual fields. The HiCast Sports Network streaming service they have set up is $20 per month but has its own issues, such as the camera at Field 5 has been out of power since September 17 so both of our games on Field 5 this past November 5 weekend turns out are not recorded and cannot be viewed. It would be nice to have had a message sent through Team Snap or something to let people know of these issues before they spend money on something they can't end up using. Again, I would probably give BPN five stars if they would fix the Wi-Fi at each individual field so we can stream video of our games and use...

First, this is an unusual review from a different perspective. I just want to first and foremost thank this park for having the ABILITY to put two umpires on a field in this hard time for umpire shortage. Second, I am unbelievably thankful for the staff here at Ballpark National. As a UIC this past weekend, the heat was a big factor. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that umpires and employees of the park are human too. When you might have 3 or 4 games that day, these employees and umpires are out in that same heat for the entire day. We had an umpire have a heat issue and the attentiveness and just overall caring attitude from the staff was incredible. But, it doesn't just stop with this situation. I watch their employees run and take care of potential problems with fast and considerate care. I can't thank them enough. This ballpark is a HUGE milestone in the southwest/central Missouri area. People don't understand the quality of the complex and every little detail that goes into planning these tournaments. In nitpicking this park with some of the reviews I've read, these reviews are exactly that. Small. Ballparks National has done so much for this area by bringing this facility into play. I get to walk into a restroom that's clean. I get to play regardless of the weather. I can refill my water at NO COST (UICing at another complex last week, umpires and players were charged for their water refills) I have spacious seating. I have working scoreboards. I have good food. Plenty of activities for small children who aren't playing. QUALITY FIELDS. Great dugouts. NO DUST. Transportation to fields. No gate fees per person. AND ALCOHOL.

So, with that being said, THANK YOU Ballparks National for the opportunity that you've brought...