NCAA® Men's College World Series - Omaha, Nebraska

·         The College World Series was first played in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1947.  Kalamazoo hosted the event again in 1948.  The tournament moved to Wichita, KS, in 1949 before making Omaha its “permanent” home in 1950.

·         A total of 872 Men’s College World Series games have been played since 1947, with total overall attendance of 6,897,835.

·         Although the Men’s College World Series is now a profitable event, it lost money for 10 of its first 12 years in Omaha (1950-1961). Only 1952 and 1954 showed a small net profit in those first 12 years. A total of $43,158 was spent by Omaha corporations to subsidize those losing years.

·         ESPN first covered the Men’s College World Series in 1980 with five games that year. Since 1982, ESPN has televised the entire Men’s College World Series each year, except for the Finals games. Coverage of these began in 1988. In 1991, CBS added to its coverage the Creighton vs. Clemson game played on the first Saturday of the Series. In 2003, ESPN resumed televising the entire Series.

·         From 1988 to 2003, the Series consisted of a two-division, eight-team tournament playing double elimination with the division winners meeting in a one-game championship playoff. A best-of-three championship format was re-introduced in 2003.

·         In 1999, the National Collegiate Division I Baseball Championship expanded from a field of 48 teams to 64. The champions of all 29 NCAA Division I conferences automatically qualify for the championship, eliminating the need for play-in competitions. The remaining 35 teams are selected at-large based on NCAA Bylaw 31.3.3 and the Rating Percentage Index (RPI). The Division I Baseball Committee also considers regular season conference standings and/or conference postseason competition.

·         The 64-team bracket provides for 16 four-team double elimination Regionals, and eight two-team, best-of-three Super Regionals, with the eight winners advancing to Omaha for the NCAA Men’s College World Series.

·         College World Series of Omaha, Inc., the local organizing committee, is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1967. The primary objective of College World Series of Omaha, Inc. is two-fold: (1) To enlist wide-based community support from business, government, civic organizations and individuals to ensure ticket sales and promotional efforts that will serve as a foundation to present a very successful annual NCAA Division 1 Baseball Championship; and (2) To do everything possible, in conjunction with public and private partners, to host the Championship in Omaha as long as this tournament is conducted by the NCAA in the overall context that such a Championship provides a positive economic impact to Omaha, enhances the image of  Omaha and improves the quality of life in Omaha.

·         In 2008, the NCAA signed a new 25-year contract agreement for the Men’s College World Series beginning in 2011 to continue in Omaha through 2035.

·         In 2009, the Men’s College World Series will celebrate its 7 millionth fan milestone.