Unlike other neutral sites that host championship games like the Super Bowl, the NCAA Final Four or the College Football Playoffs, the NCAA College World Series has been played in Omaha, Nebraska since 1950.
But why? Why Omaha? Why not have the College World Series (CWS) played in other cities and other venues? The answer is not as simple and cut and dried as you may think.
Downtown Omaha Skyline
After winning the opening game of the 2010 Los Angeles Super Regional, the Cal State Fullerton Titan baseball team was two strikes away in Game No. 2 from making another trip to Omaha. By virtue of losing Game No. 2 to the UCLA Bruins, the Titans were forced into a winner take all Game 3 situation. The Titans did not bring their bats that night and ended up losing the game, propelling UCLA to the 2010 College World Series.
This being the final year the College World Series will be held inside Rosenblatt Stadium, the Titans who have been to Omaha 16 times, will have to bid the historic stadium a final goodbye from home. The City of Omaha will keep the College World Series but the games in 2011 and beyond will be played in a new, downtown ballpark set to open next year.
Even though the Titans did not advance to Omaha in 2010, the future looks bright. We’re sure Coach Dave Serrano, his staff and players will have their sights set on being the first champions to be crowned in the new Omaha downtown ballpark in 2011.
