A Summer of Baseball in Laredo
Laredo, Texas, is preparing to welcome two Pony Baseball World Series tournaments this summer, drawing teams from across the United States and several foreign nations.
The competitions will showcase the Pony Palomino division for under‑18 players and the Bronco division for under‑12 competitors, with games split between the Buena Vista Sports Complex and Uni‑Trade Stadium.
Organizers project that the events will generate roughly $1.7 million in economic activity for the city, including about 400 hotel room nights reserved for players and their families.
Participants will include squads from Belgium, France, Taiwan, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, joining four domestic teams and two local host teams in a truly international field.
The schedule calls for the Palomino games to be held over two days at Buena Vista before the final rounds move to Uni‑Trade Stadium, while opening ceremonies will kick off on Friday night at the same complex.
A meet‑and‑greet scheduled for July 30 will give fans a chance to meet players and coaches ahead of the tournament, which runs from July 31 through August 3.
All games will be open to the public, and live streams will be provided by YouTube through Liquid Studio Group and by Facebook via South Texas Sports Live.
Local officials expect the influx of visitors to boost spending at restaurants, gas stations and retailers, extending the economic benefit beyond hotel bookings.