Has anyone attended the Cooperstown Dreams Park and in the process I guess you are required to bring one umpire. So how does this work? Just ask around to see who would like to go? I guess its free once you are there as an ump its just getting them there, maybe offering to pay for their gas I don't know. Anyone with experience on this I would appreciate your input.

i think you have to pay for an ump's fee. they changed it last year, i think. it is worth a call to them to find out.

From Cooperstown's website....

http://www.cooperstowndreamspark.com/umpire.html

The only thing I know about Cooperstown is you can't get there by walking.

Went last year, had to pay umpire's way + an additional $500.

Talked to some other coach's while we were there and found out they paid the same thing.

Met one coach who's team didn't bring a ump and they were charged an additional fee and I think it was in the neighborhood of $700+

We went for 3 years and only brought an ump for 2 (1 backed out at the last minute). We never had to pay a fee for not bringing one.

We paid for gas and the laundry fee for our ump. We sifted through many who wanted this to be a money maker before we found our guy.

Good luck in your search.....However be prepared for some very differing opinions in the umpiring community on the Cooperstown experience,.........

There are some umpires, who have gone, who have related the experience as akin to "summer camp" for umpires...they have enjoyed the experience and some return year after year to call games with the friends they met there........They have found it a very rewarding experience....

Another large group finds the teams having to bring a "free umpire" as being exploited by a "for profit" organization........

good luck............

I spoke with a gentleman this weekend that had just returned on Friday from his week and he loved the experience. The team that he went with Paid his airfare and gave him $500 for the week.