Sydney to host 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier

A tournament with teams from Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Africa will be held in February next year as a qualifying event for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Baseball Australia has announced that the six-game tournament will be held from 11th to 14th February at the Blacktown International Sportspark in Western Sydney, with the winner qualifying for the 2017 Classic.

A host city or country for the 2017 tournament has not been determined, but it is expected to include 16 teams.

Australia finished last in its pool in 2013, forcing it to re-qualify for 2017.

12 teams have already qualified, including defending champions Dominican Republic, Canada, China, Cuba, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States and Venezuela.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres expects that event to provide a boost for the visitor economy of Western Sydney attracting local and overseas visitors to the area.

Minister Ayres stated “I am pleased this World Baseball Classic Qualifier has been secured for Western Sydney, joining a raft of other major sporting events won for the area.

“The event is expected to attract over 1,000 domestic and overseas visitors to Western Sydney, generating almost $1.5 million in visitor expenditure and providing a massive boost to the hotels, businesses and restaurants in the area.”

The tournament is created and sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB).

With the hosting of this event and Sydney hosting the Opening Series of the 2014 Major League Baseball regular season, Minister Ayres added “NSW is the Australian home of baseball.”

Lower image: Blacktown International Sportspark

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