Haarlem Baseball Week is changing. After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, Haarlem Baseball Week will return on Friday, July 8, 2022, with a new format. In consultation with the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB), the tournament organizers have decided to implement a number of changes to make the tournament even better and more appealing.
TOURNAMENT FORMATThe Baseball Week will last eight days, with three games per day and the tournament final on Friday evening, July 15, 2022. The decision to shorten Baseball Week was partly driven by the organization’s desire to allow all baseball fans in the Netherlands to enjoy the tournament, and specifically for this reason, the KNBSB is prepared to suspend the league schedule in the Netherlands during the weekend of July 9 and 10.
In line with international trends and the direction set by the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC), games during Haarlem Baseball Week will consist of seven innings. This decision makes it possible to host three games per day and gives the tournament more room for memorable moments and entertainment that reflect the spirit of Haarlem Baseball Week.
PARTICIPANTS
Baseball Week anticipates that we will once 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 primarily from our goal of reaching more fans—including new ones—in addition to our loyal visitors. Furthermore, sponsorship revenues had declined slightly. We therefore asked the sports marketing agency ByBP to take a look at the structure of our tournament and its future. We have also intensified our collaboration with the KNBSB. All of this has led to the above result, in which baseball takes center stage, but there is also room for innovative elements, such as an All-Star Game, a Home Run Derby, or other enhancements to our tournament.”