Baseball Week Haarlem is changing. After the 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID-19, Baseball Week Haarlem returns on Friday, July 8, 2022, in a modified format. In consultation with the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB), the tournament organizers have decided to make a number of changes that will make the tournament even better and more appealing.
Baseball Week will last eight days, with three games each day and the tournament final on Friday night, July 15, 2022. The decision to shorten Baseball Week was made partly because the organization wanted to allow all baseball fans in the Netherlands to enjoy the tournament, and for this reason in particular, the KNBSB is willing to suspend the league schedule in the Netherlands over the weekend of July 9 and 10.
To align with international trends and the direction set by the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC), games during Baseball Week Haarlem will be seven innings long. This decision makes it possible to schedule three games per day and gives the tournament more room for memorable moments and entertainment befitting Baseball Week Haarlem.
PARTICIPANTS
's Baseball Week assumes that we will again have six teams competing in 2022. So far, the Netherlands, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Italy have confirmed their participation. Negotiations with two other participating countries are currently at an advanced stage.
According to Guus van Dee, chairman of the organizing committee, changes were necessary. “The changes stem mainly from our efforts to reach more fans—including new ones—in addition to, of course, our loyal visitors. In addition, sponsorship revenue declined slightly. We therefore asked the sports marketing agency ByBP to review the structure of our tournament and its future. We also strengthened our partnership with the KNBSB. All of this has led to the outcome described above, in which baseball remains central, but there is also room for innovative elements, such as an All-Star Game, a Home Run Derby, or other enhancements to our tournament.”