By Moses Leos III

P

erhaps the NCAA did something right 50 years ago when they moved the College World Series to Omaha, Nebraska. 

Little did they know that small town in Middle America would become the Mecca for collegiate baseball fans. 

Today, Omaha has grown into a bustling metropolis. However, it’s still hidden amongst the vast prairies and cornfields of the American Midwest.  

That dichotomy of rural living and city life gives the College World Series the mystique its fans have come to expect. The rustic feel that seems to go hand in hand with America’s pastime itself. 

For the legions of college baseball enthusiasts, the opportunity to make that pilgrimage to Omaha is a chance of a lifetime. 

Of course, getting there can be as much of an adventure as visiting the city itself. Those unable to sell off a kidney for a plane ticket must make that lengthy drive. 

And it’s definitely a drive — fourteen or so hours from Kyle, Texas, to be exact. A little more if you visit the various diners, drive-ins and dives that populate small towns along the way. 

While flying is more convenient, it doesn’t allow one to see the vast openness of north Texas and Oklahoma, or the rolling hills and fields of grain of Kansas and Nebraska. 

And that’s before one sets eyes on TD Ameritrade Park itself — the new home for the College World Series. 

No high-definition television can do the stadium justice. It’s even more magnificent in person. 

The fact the stadium mixes well with the downtown atmosphere makes it more appealing. Getting the chance to visit Omaha’s bar scene, or the Old Market district after a compelling ball game is an added treat. 

However, the friendliness and magnificence of TD Ameritrade is somewhat tempered. After all, it’s no Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium – the first and iconic home of the CWS, which was torn down in 2012. 

What remains is the ambience and excitement of the event itself. 

No matter where you go in Omaha, images and emblems of the participating CWS teams are ever present. Fans of each team populate the city, proudly adorning their team’s colors and sigils. 

Of course, everyone is there for the games. From the sweet smell of funnel cakes and kettle corn, to those multicolored beach balls being tossed around in the outfield – Omaha is everything college baseball fans could envision, and more. 

Sadly, not everyone’s trip to Omaha is a long one. Inevitably, only one team can claim the championship. Often times, it isn’t the team you follow (or are covering, in our case). 

Having the chance to visit Omaha makes up for any lingering disappointment. 

Maybe the NCAA knew what it was doing all along. 

After all, “If you build it, they will come.”