-New Era to Bring in NCAA Coaches to Enhance Tournament Experience-

BUFFALO, NY (May 20, 2008) – With two months until the 1st Annual New Era Cap Classic baseball tournament (NECC), the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has estimated that the event, hosted by New Era Cap, will have a local economic impact of more than $1.3 million on the Western New York area.

The tournament, being held over two weekends in July, will bring 140 elite youth baseball teams from over a dozen states and across Canada to Western New York to compete. Between players, coaches and family members, the NECC will attract approximately 3,500 attendees between both weekends. According to the CVB, over 4,800 Western New York hotel rooms are expected to be booked over the duration of the tournament.

“The announcement of this event is an indicator that amateur sports continue to be a major economic engine for Buffalo’s hospitality industry,” said Richard Geiger, President & CEO, Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are thrilled that a company with New Era Cap’s brand recognition is hosting a tournament here in Buffalo. This will add to the long lineup of events that help make Buffalo one of the top amateur sports destinations in the country.”

When teams are not competing, they’ll be encouraged to visit Niagara Falls and other attractions, dine at local restaurants and shop at retailers throughout WNY.

Tournament games will take place at various baseball facilities throughout WNY including the Amherst Pepsi Center, Niagara University, Hilbert College, Lou Gehrig Complex, and New Era Parks, as well as at area high schools. Some of the local tournament games will be shown on Time Warner Cable, airing on Channel 13 and on WNY on Demand. The championship games, which will take place on Sunday, July 20th and Sunday, August 3rd, will be played at Buffalo’s own, Dunn Tire Park.

“We had over 200 teams apply for a spot to play in the tournament – for a tournament in its first year, these kind of results are a great achievement,” said Gerry Matos, New Era Senior VP, Marketing. “We see this as only the beginning of an event we look to expand significantly in the years to come.”

To make this a truly beneficial event for the teams, New Era has created a Coaches Advisory Board comprised of some of the top NCAA coaches right now including Paul Mainieri (LSU), Brian O’Connor (UVA), Ron Torgalski (University at Buffalo), Mike MacRae (Canisius), and Chris Chernisky (Niagara University).

The advisory board will be hosting a panel discussion with team coaches on July 31st to discuss the college recruiting and scholarship process as well as providing insight to coaches on preparing their athletes for the next level of competition.

“It’s great to be able to draw on the relationships we have with the over 200 colleges and universities we produce headwear for,” Matos added. “Having these experienced, college coaches speak to the youth coaches in an intimate setting is pretty unique and a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of these teams.”

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About New Era Cap Classic 2008
Tournament weekends are July 17th-20th and July 31st-August 3rd, 2008.

For more information, visit http://necc.neweracap.com.

NECC is geared towards elite baseball teams from across the United States and Canada. With New Era's long term relationship with Major League Baseball and other organizations such as Minor League Baseball, USA Baseball, Little League Baseball and many top ranked college baseball teams, the tournament will likely attract the attention of baseball coaches, players and scouts at all levels of play.


Contact:
Dana Marciniak , New Era Cap Co.
(716) 604.9259
dana.marciniak@neweracap.com

Tania Castillo, New Era Cap Co.
(716) 604.9000 x.1439
tania.castillo@neweracap.com