McQuade Tournament Traffic Picks Up | Video

Joel Porter | 6/18/2012

The softball diamonds in Bismarck are mostly quiet on a weekday afternoon. But by the end of the week, each one will be a beehive of activity.

"We`re going nonstop on all 40 diamonds all weekend," said tournament Co-Director Mike Wolf.

Wolf is finalizing plans for the 37th year of the McQuade Charity Softball tournament. With 457 teams signed up, he says they`re not making history this year, but the games could bring around 10,000 extra people to the Capital City.

"I know softball overall is a little bit down in our state versus last year, so that`s why the numbers dropped a little," said Shannon McQuade-Ely with McQuade Distributing.

"A lot of people plan this tournament out a year in advance. So I know several teams that when they leave for the weekend after this weekend, they`ve already made their reservations for next year at this time," Wolf said.

Hotel rooms in both Bismarck and Mandan have also been in high demand over the past year. With just a few days until the tournament, open hotel rooms are becoming a rarity.

"We have a handful of rooms yet that we`re going to, I`m sure, sell out of," said Doublewood Inn General Manager Keri Schneider.

Fortunately, tournament leaders have become gracious hosts. Capital RV loans a few trailers for the weekend and Wolf says he even puts up several of the tournament umpires at his home.

"And they`re traveling this year from Nebraska, Michigan, Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota. And they`re coming here at their own expense."

"It`s a good time and it`s sort of like a nice family or high school reunion atmosphere so a lot of people are staying with friends now," McQuade-Ely said.

Weather permitting, Wolf says he`s anticipating another successful, albeit long weekend. Wolf says they also have a few teams that are on waiting lists in the event of any cancellations.

You can also check available hotels on the Bismarck Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

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