Opening Day at The Yards of Cameron Planned February 20
Community invited to baseball games, family activities and dedication of major-league caliber youth sports facility
Community leaders in Cameron, Texas will host Opening Day at The Yards of Cameron on Saturday, February 20. The daylong event is the first opportunity for residents in central Texas to see, tour and enjoy the $18 million project that is well on its way to completion.
“We are excited to welcome residents, baseball fans and families to The Yards of Cameron,” says Bob McClaren, president of the Cameron Future Foundation. “Everything about The Yards of Cameron is designed to serve our youth, local businesses and to introduce visitors to the good news of Cameron.”
Activities on February 20 include Family Fun & Fitness in the morning, a Yoemen alumni baseball game, a sneak peak opening for 44 Farms Farmers Market, the official Yards dedication ceremony and a doubleheader between Temple College and Angelina College in the afternoon. In addition, public tours of the facilities will be available throughout the day, as well as kite flying and drone demonstrations.
Beginning in February, the C.H. Yoe High School baseball team will play all home games on Field #1 at The Yards of Cameron. “In 2014, the Cameron Independent School District partnered with the Cameron Economic Development Corporation to build the finest baseball facility in Central Texas,” says Allan Sapp, superintendent of the Cameron ISD.
Yoe alumni will scrimmage on Field #1 of The Yards at 9 am on Opening Day, and Temple College will play Angelina College in a doubleheader starting at 2 pm. “We have some exceptional athletes among our Yoe alumni, and they are excited to take to the field on Feb. 20,” says Baseball Head Coach John Broussard.
The first Yoe home game will be The Yoemen Classic scheduled Feb. 26-28 at The Yards of Cameron.
Currently Field #1, Founders Hall, 44 Farms Farmers Market, the hike-n-bike trail, a large outdoor play space for children and community parking at The Yards are ready for use. When fully completed, the major-league caliber facilities on the east side of Cameron will include baseball and softball fields, a farmers market, hike-n-bike trails, play areas and a community event center.
Phases 2 and 3 will include two more synthetic baseball fields, three softball fields and an expansion to the hike-n-bike trail. The Yards will position Cameron as the epicenter of outdoor youth sports activities in Central Texas.
“The Yards of Cameron is a game changer for our community because it allows us to create jobs and encourage capital investment by leveraging our greatest assets — our people, our community spirit and our central location. The tourism industry uses our natural strengths and showcases our home,” says Bobby Schiller, president of the Cameron Economic Development Corporation. “One of the fastest-growing areas of this industry is non-professional sports tourism which is a lucrative niche driven by young athletes and the families who travel regularly to cheer them on.”
Non-professional sports tourism generates $7 billion in direct visitor spending nationally, according to the National Association of Sports Commissions and the U.S. Travel Association.
“The area’s well-known passion for youth sports of all kinds makes this industry and The Yards of Cameron a perfect fit with our community values,” says Cameron Mayor Connie Anderle. “It will have a huge economic impact and add to our local quality of life. We hope everyone in the city and county will join us for one or more activities on Opening Day.”
The Yards of Cameron are located at 301 Adams Avenue. Community hosts for Opening Day include the Cameron ISD, Cameron Economic Development Corporation, City of Cameron, Cameron Future Foundation and Cameron Industrial Foundation. For more information about Opening Day at The Yards of Cameron, visit www.TheYardsOfCameron.com. On Facebook, like The Yard of Cameron and on Instagram, use @theyardsofcameron.
