at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The event, starting at 8:30 p.m., will highlight a full day of free activities including team practices, autograph sessions, the NCAA Fan Fest presented by Capital One and a fireworks spectacular.
Winfield, who was unable to attend last year’s Legends Team recognition ceremony at Rosenblatt Stadium will be presented with his Legends Team bat and jersey. He is also scheduled to address the student-athletes at Opening Ceremonies about his experiences during the 1973 CWS when he was a baseball student-athlete at the University of Minnesota.
“Dave Winfield was a fan-favorite among College World Series Legends Team members representing student-athletes who had the best CWS performances over the past 60 years,” said Scott Fosler, NCAA assistant director of brand strategies and events. “Having him here to accept his bat and jersey, as well as interacting with the student-athletes will be a great enhancement to the Opening Ceremonies experience.”
McBride, a four-time Country Music Association (CMA) "Female Vocalist of the Year" winner and three-time Academy of Country Music (ACM) “Top Female Vocalist,” will perform following a precision freefall parachute demonstration by the Special Ops Para-Commandos into the stadium. “Martina McBride’s performance will include singing a patriotic song that will be coordinated with pyrotechnics and conclude in a fireworks finale that will be a combination of close-proximity and areal displays,” Fosler explained.
Team introductions will be enhanced this year with the addition of an inflatable tunnel where student-athletes and their coaches will exit through an array of special effects such as smoke and pyrotechnics. The Stepper-ettes Parade and Dance Team, which is the largest baton twirling organization in the Midwest, will form a pom line to welcome each team. The Stepper-ettes will fill the outfield with Flag and Baton Dance Team members who will perform their award-winning routines.
Highlights of each team’s season will be played on the stadium’s video board throughout the introductions, which will be followed by the presentation of academic awards to individual student-athletes by NCAA president Mark Emmert and Creighton University president Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J. Appearances by Winfield, the Special Ops Para-Commandos, McBride and fireworks will complete the ceremonies.
The Opening Ceremonies conclude a full day of activities inside and outside the stadium, including open team practices, team autograph sessions and the grand opening of the CWS Fan Fest presented by Capital One. This area will have free interactive games, contests and prizes sponsored by the NCAA Corporate Champions and Partners. Team autograph sessions presented by NCAA Corporate Champion AT&T® will be held one-half hour after the completion of each team practice. “The team autograph sessions presented by AT&T will start at 10:30 a.m. and continue to 6 p.m.,” Fosler said. “The players will be signing autographs on the first and third base concourses of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha beginning one-half hour after their practices are completed.”
