The Muskoka Hornets held its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, December 22nd, electing its Board for 2025, reviewing the record-setting 2024 house league season, and previewing what to expect for the program in 2025.
Of note in this presentation was an update on the schedule of tournaments for next year. In 2025, the Muskoka Hornets minor baseball organization will host 8 Muskoka Cup events, two YSBA championships, and two provincial championships. These tournaments are expected to attract 120 teams in total and as many as 1500 families to Muskoka next summer, generating over $1 million in revenue for the local cottage country economy.
“We sold out all 8 divisions of our 2025 Muskoka Cup tournaments on word of mouth alone. This is a testament to the great reputation of our summer Muskoka Cup tournaments played on beautiful diamonds in the most beautiful region on planet earth,” commented Muskoka Hornets President Peter Haynes. “It is amazing to know that in addition to giving families a great baseball experience, these baseball tournaments have a significant economic footprint on local hotels, restaurants, and businesses in Muskoka,” he added.
2024 was a great year for the Hornets, with a record 400 participants in our house league and travel programs. Based on early interest, we expect 2025 to exceed 2024 numbers, putting strains on the capacity of local baseball infrastructure, a good problem to incur.
In terms of Board changes for 2025, we are pleased to announce that Andrew Hall, Jennifer Hill, Jeff Ley, and Tyler Fields were elected to our new Board, filling vacancies in player development, house league, sponsorship and fundraising, and equipment, respectively. Two Board members, Josh Shaw and Keith Courville, did not seek re-election. On behalf of the Hornets program, thank you to both Josh and Keith for your time on the Board. It has been a quiet couple of months to end the year for local baseball enthusiasts, but this all changes on January 4th as the 7 Hornets travel teams for 2025 begin indoor training at the beautiful new Muskoka Lumber Fieldhouse in Bracebridge. It will not be long before Spring Training starts and the snow melts, allowing our eager baseball enthusiasts back onto the diamonds to play the game they love.
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Great example of how investment in sports tourism which includes facilities, pays off in financial benefit for local businesses. That means jobs and marketing opportunities that make the benefit even more long term for everyone.