June 9, 2025 • 8 mins
The CWS is Almost Set. Here's What to Expect This Year.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I have my friend Amy Hornocker on the phone line.
She's the executive director of College World Series of Omaha, inc. Amy,
thank you so much for being on our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hey, thank you. Sorry I couldn't be there in person.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
It's okay. I know that you're incredibly busy this time
of year. Okay, So where are we at in the
process right, because I'm sure you know you're getting you're
you're learning about new teams and how that may affect things.
What what is your guys' job at CWUS of Omaha
look like here a few days out from the actual
beginning of the games.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, I actually always say it, it actually gets better
once we get started. So we we are. We have actually,
you know, seven of our eight teams have already qualified,
so we are waiting for that a team and then
the Division on Baseball Committee will meet tonight and then
unveil the official bracket so everyone will know it's I
(00:53):
believe it's sixteenth Central. H What Friday and Saturday will
look like for the Mats.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, I'm looking at the teams here and just for people,
we have seven of the eight as you mentioned, Duke
and Murray State the two teams I don't think anybody
had on their radar. They're they're kind of duking it
out literally for that last For that last spot, we
got Arkansas Arizona LSU, which I know a lot of
people are excited about. Oregon State is back u c
(01:22):
l A, who was just here for the Big Ten
Baseball tournament a couple of weeks ago in Louisville, and
then Coastal Carolina clinch on Saturday. So, how like when
you guys learned about a school, does that change anything?
Because I know that you know, these schools are going
to figure out where they're going to stay and they
need the bracket to come out to know exactly when
(01:43):
they're going to play. How does that kind of work
with what you guys are operating with.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, so we we work with the Committee and Nancay
on coming out of our super regionals, we basically put
them in a hotel from there, and then we also
have people we call our team hosts that are members
of local service clubs that we assign. They're basically are
(02:07):
welcome to Omaha group and they stick with the teams
so the entirety of their stay here and provide them
with any things that they need, so we do. We
signed that the host and the hotel once they get
to that super regional, so they get to watch the
two come across the bracket and then find out, you know,
who their team is. Obviously most of them found out yesterday.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, and that's one of the other things too. Right
as we speak with Amy Hornocker from the Collegeural Series
of Omaha, this, Uh, it's such a unique tournament that
we get to see eight teams every year, but they
could be completely different teams. I know Murray State's trying
to get here and that would be like them, or
do could be a really interesting, you know, kind of
(02:52):
new beat into the mix. But most of the teams
have at least somewhat of a history here. How important
is it for I guess Omaha. I know that we
would take any of the eight teams, and it's kind
of fun to have the little teams. But like when
you see LSU win and make it here or Arkansas
and you know how rabid those fans are. Is there
a part of you guys that are really excited about
(03:14):
bringing those big, traditional powerhouses back to Omaha every year?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Sure, we, of course we love the powerhouses, but like
you said like having a Murray State here, Omaha does
a really good job of embracing at Cinderella, So it
will be either actually either or Murray State has never
been here, I believe if the if the SID has
told me it's been a long time, maybe even the fifties.
But this field has been interesting because there there are
(03:41):
people these teams have been here before, but some of
them it's been a little bit. So it's it's kind
of cool to see.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Amy I last year, you guys made some improvements. I
know every single year you're trying to see what can
be better and what you can do a little bit differently,
which is always very interesting, right because if you was
like such a great event, your guys' job is to
kind of figure out how you can somehow make it better.
In top last year's what are some of the things
that you took away from last year that you felt
like really work that you tried for the first time
(04:11):
for that we.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Did last year, I think I guess I would just
call out mostly our we try to always build on
our fan experience, so whether it's in the ballpark with
some of our gam Knights to outside with the fan fest. Uh,
that's sponsored by Capital One, So we the Fairest will
made its debut last year, it will return and and
(04:34):
we also have a really cool national asset that belongs
to the Air Force that will be out there. It's
a VR stimulator called the Hangar. So we always try
to look for things not just inside, by outside because
the FanFest is obviously open to the public regardless of
if you have a ticket. But yeah, our job is
to continually look at things from the van and student
(04:55):
athlete experience and and continue to build on to try
to make this thing the best it can be.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So let's talk about this year Amy Amy Hornocker joining
US executive director of College World Series of Omaha. You
mentioned player experience and making sure that these schools and
these student athletes feel like they're getting an amazing experience.
What are kind of the things that you guys are
in control of that allow these schools to feel like
they're having the time of their life when they're in Omaha.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, so they I think it starts with I mean,
when we talk about our organization running it is you
have so many partners. It starts from when they land here.
We have a great team out of Epley that gets
them off their planes and works with our aero stage line,
our bus company, because that is their first real experience
when they land here. Is how you know, how easily
they're unloaded and sent off to their team hotel so
(05:44):
and then they'll bill go and check in and then
just the experience there. And then with their offsite practices,
we have a lot of places that will provide the
fields for them and then we do have a private
opening event for them and their families this year. So
we just continue to try to find different ways to
make sure that they have a special time while they're here.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Yeah, that's one thing that you always consistently here with
these schools is they're excited to get back to Omaha.
Not just because I know that there's a national championship
on the line, but there's something special about what we've
built here in this community over the decades, and especially
downtown now there's just a vibe that I think is
really hard to match for a lot of other collegiate atmospheres.
(06:30):
You know, of course we hear about the college football
playoff and their bowl games, and you talk about college basketball,
but there's something inherently unique to what Omaha has to provide.
So for people who are interested in checking out what
you guys have this year, what would be the best
way for people to learn more? Because I'm the kind
of guy no matter what you got going on, I'm
going to be down there at the party. I mean,
(06:51):
it's going to be a giant party and I love that.
But go ahead and tell people how they can learn
a little bit more about all the other things that
you guys have available down there.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Definitely. I mean, we'd like to say that it's an
atmosphere down here whether you're a baseball fan or not.
So I think the best resource is Cwsomaha dot com.
We are also celebrating the seventiesith year of this event
in Omaha, Nebraska, So I think the biggest signature event
we have this year is on Thursday the twelve, June twelfth,
which is right before we kick off all the games
(07:21):
at the Jan La Hie Mal on the riverfront property.
We're going to have a big We have free concerts,
food trucks, and then fireworks. It's free. We want to
celebrate with the community that's given so much to this event.
So that's just again, It's June twelfth, and you can
find more information on everything, parking, street closures, those kinds
(07:42):
of things. All that's a really good resource is Cwusomaha
dot com.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's perfect And what a great way on that Thursday
night to kick everything off. And it's going to be
an absolute blast, as it always is as we go
toward a national champion. Potentially you got you got a
rooting interest tonight. I know you guys going to watch
Duke Murray State.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Do you prefer? Yeah, I know, I can I can't say,
but it'll be it'll be.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Fun to watch. Okay, fair enough, Amy Hornocker, thanks so
much for covering out some time for us. Hopefully I
get a chance to see you sometime soon in person.
And uh, you guys do such great work, So thank
you so much for what you do for Omaha. Thank
you all right, We really appreciate Amy for being a
part of the show today.
I have my friend Amy Hornocker on the phone line.
She's the executive director of College World Series of Omaha, inc. Amy,
thank you so much for being on our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hey, thank you. Sorry I couldn't be there in person.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
It's okay. I know that you're incredibly busy this time
of year. Okay, So where are we at in the
process right, because I'm sure you know you're getting you're
you're learning about new teams and how that may affect things.
What what is your guys' job at CWUS of Omaha
look like here a few days out from the actual
beginning of the games.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, I actually always say it, it actually gets better
once we get started. So we we are. We have actually,
you know, seven of our eight teams have already qualified,
so we are waiting for that a team and then
the Division on Baseball Committee will meet tonight and then
unveil the official bracket so everyone will know it's I
(00:53):
believe it's sixteenth Central. H What Friday and Saturday will
look like for the Mats.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, I'm looking at the teams here and just for people,
we have seven of the eight as you mentioned, Duke
and Murray State the two teams I don't think anybody
had on their radar. They're they're kind of duking it
out literally for that last For that last spot, we
got Arkansas Arizona LSU, which I know a lot of
people are excited about. Oregon State is back u c
(01:22):
l A, who was just here for the Big Ten
Baseball tournament a couple of weeks ago in Louisville, and
then Coastal Carolina clinch on Saturday. So, how like when
you guys learned about a school, does that change anything?
Because I know that you know, these schools are going
to figure out where they're going to stay and they
need the bracket to come out to know exactly when
(01:43):
they're going to play. How does that kind of work
with what you guys are operating with.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, so we we work with the Committee and Nancay
on coming out of our super regionals, we basically put
them in a hotel from there, and then we also
have people we call our team hosts that are members
of local service clubs that we assign. They're basically are
(02:07):
welcome to Omaha group and they stick with the teams
so the entirety of their stay here and provide them
with any things that they need, so we do. We
signed that the host and the hotel once they get
to that super regional, so they get to watch the
two come across the bracket and then find out, you know,
who their team is. Obviously most of them found out yesterday.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, and that's one of the other things too. Right
as we speak with Amy Hornocker from the Collegeural Series
of Omaha, this, Uh, it's such a unique tournament that
we get to see eight teams every year, but they
could be completely different teams. I know Murray State's trying
to get here and that would be like them, or
do could be a really interesting, you know, kind of
(02:52):
new beat into the mix. But most of the teams
have at least somewhat of a history here. How important
is it for I guess Omaha. I know that we
would take any of the eight teams, and it's kind
of fun to have the little teams. But like when
you see LSU win and make it here or Arkansas
and you know how rabid those fans are. Is there
a part of you guys that are really excited about
(03:14):
bringing those big, traditional powerhouses back to Omaha every year?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Sure, we, of course we love the powerhouses, but like
you said like having a Murray State here, Omaha does
a really good job of embracing at Cinderella, So it
will be either actually either or Murray State has never
been here, I believe if the if the SID has
told me it's been a long time, maybe even the fifties.
But this field has been interesting because there there are
(03:41):
people these teams have been here before, but some of
them it's been a little bit. So it's it's kind
of cool to see.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Amy I last year, you guys made some improvements. I
know every single year you're trying to see what can
be better and what you can do a little bit differently,
which is always very interesting, right because if you was
like such a great event, your guys' job is to
kind of figure out how you can somehow make it better.
In top last year's what are some of the things
that you took away from last year that you felt
like really work that you tried for the first time
(04:11):
for that we.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Did last year, I think I guess I would just
call out mostly our we try to always build on
our fan experience, so whether it's in the ballpark with
some of our gam Knights to outside with the fan fest. Uh,
that's sponsored by Capital One, So we the Fairest will
made its debut last year, it will return and and
(04:34):
we also have a really cool national asset that belongs
to the Air Force that will be out there. It's
a VR stimulator called the Hangar. So we always try
to look for things not just inside, by outside because
the FanFest is obviously open to the public regardless of
if you have a ticket. But yeah, our job is
to continually look at things from the van and student
(04:55):
athlete experience and and continue to build on to try
to make this thing the best it can be.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So let's talk about this year Amy Amy Hornocker joining
US executive director of College World Series of Omaha. You
mentioned player experience and making sure that these schools and
these student athletes feel like they're getting an amazing experience.
What are kind of the things that you guys are
in control of that allow these schools to feel like
they're having the time of their life when they're in Omaha.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, so they I think it starts with I mean,
when we talk about our organization running it is you
have so many partners. It starts from when they land here.
We have a great team out of Epley that gets
them off their planes and works with our aero stage line,
our bus company, because that is their first real experience
when they land here. Is how you know, how easily
they're unloaded and sent off to their team hotel so
(05:44):
and then they'll bill go and check in and then
just the experience there. And then with their offsite practices,
we have a lot of places that will provide the
fields for them and then we do have a private
opening event for them and their families this year. So
we just continue to try to find different ways to
make sure that they have a special time while they're here.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Yeah, that's one thing that you always consistently here with
these schools is they're excited to get back to Omaha.
Not just because I know that there's a national championship
on the line, but there's something special about what we've
built here in this community over the decades, and especially
downtown now there's just a vibe that I think is
really hard to match for a lot of other collegiate atmospheres.
(06:30):
You know, of course we hear about the college football
playoff and their bowl games, and you talk about college basketball,
but there's something inherently unique to what Omaha has to provide.
So for people who are interested in checking out what
you guys have this year, what would be the best
way for people to learn more? Because I'm the kind
of guy no matter what you got going on, I'm
going to be down there at the party. I mean,
(06:51):
it's going to be a giant party and I love that.
But go ahead and tell people how they can learn
a little bit more about all the other things that
you guys have available down there.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Definitely. I mean, we'd like to say that it's an
atmosphere down here whether you're a baseball fan or not.
So I think the best resource is Cwsomaha dot com.
We are also celebrating the seventiesith year of this event
in Omaha, Nebraska, So I think the biggest signature event
we have this year is on Thursday the twelve, June twelfth,
which is right before we kick off all the games
(07:21):
at the Jan La Hie Mal on the riverfront property.
We're going to have a big We have free concerts,
food trucks, and then fireworks. It's free. We want to
celebrate with the community that's given so much to this event.
So that's just again, It's June twelfth, and you can
find more information on everything, parking, street closures, those kinds
(07:42):
of things. All that's a really good resource is Cwusomaha
dot com.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's perfect And what a great way on that Thursday
night to kick everything off. And it's going to be
an absolute blast, as it always is as we go
toward a national champion. Potentially you got you got a
rooting interest tonight. I know you guys going to watch
Duke Murray State.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Do you prefer? Yeah, I know, I can I can't say,
but it'll be it'll be.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Fun to watch. Okay, fair enough, Amy Hornocker, thanks so
much for covering out some time for us. Hopefully I
get a chance to see you sometime soon in person.
And uh, you guys do such great work, So thank
you so much for what you do for Omaha. Thank
you all right, We really appreciate Amy for being a
part of the show today.
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