Pueblo County aims to attract youth baseball tournaments with Runyon Field renovations

Spring may be months away, but Pueblo County has baseball on its mind.

In an effort to bring more youth baseball tournaments --and more money -- to the Steel City, the county is finalizing plans for a complete of the historic Runyon Field.

In 2016, voters in Pueblo County approved $8 million to be spent on expanding and fixing up Runyon Field. A part of the beautification projects of Runyon Lake and its surrounding area.

Last week during a Pueblo County Commissioner hearing, Runyon Field’s board members laid out their plans.

“We are really clear about the market and attracting baseball here it’s already happening but we can grow it,” said Salvador Acuna, a board member at Runyon since the '90s.

The ultimate goal is to host more tournaments in Pueblo, and attract teams from across the country. Youth tournament baseball and softball is big business throughout the United States. According to Acuna, youth baseball tournaments are a $12 billion industry.

“Families that come here will eat in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, and visit all of our locations," said Acuna. "That’s going to bring revenue into the city of Pueblo.”

Runyon currently has six baseball and softball fields. This upgrade could potentially add three more.

The $8 million would also pay for new bleachers, netting, a larger staff, new dugouts, and scoreboards. Board members are also pitching for a new superintendent position to look after the day to day operations at the facility.

For now, there is no timetable as to when this project can really get underway, and construction can begin. Acuna says improvements can be made in phases, however, it is unclear when the county can break ground on the three new fields.