►
From YouTube: Aiken This Week - July 27, 2015 : Jeff Metz
Description
Athletic / Tourism Superintendent Jeff Metz talks about facilities, athletic activities, and tourism in the City of Aiken.
A
A
B
A
few
years
ago,
we
combined
athletics
and
tourism,
and
we
were
doing
a
lot
of
the
same
things.
Sports
tourism
at
susan's
park
had
really
taken
off.
We
were
trying
to
host
a
lot
of
weekend
events
and
we
were
traveling
to
trade,
shows
and
conventions
around
the
region
and
trying
to
recruit
against
other
cities
and
counties,
and
you
know
we
just
felt
like
that.
A
Good,
we
talk
to
jeanne
a
couple
of
weeks
ago
on
the
show,
so
we
won't
focus
a
lot
of
time
today
on
tourism,
we
don't
spend
a
lot
of
time
talking
about
athletics
and,
what's
coming
up,
so
tell
us
a
little
bit
about
yourself.
You've
been
with
a
city
of
wow,
tell
us
about
your
responsibilities
with
the
city.
Okay,.
B
Like
say,
oversee
athletic
center
ism,
the
big
one
I
guess
for
athletics
assistance
part
we
do
year-round
sports
programming
out
there
with
youth
and
adults.
We
also
oversee
the
week's
Tennis
Center,
have
the
Aiken
visitors
center
and
train
museum
as
well,
and
also
the
farmers
market,
which
is
down
on
williamsburg
street.
We
also
do
the
summer
market
down
downtown,
so
we
do
all
the
sports
programming
we
want
to
stay
on
athletics.
B
A
B
Hosted
several
camps,
Kenny
Thomas
had
his
annual
camp
out
there
and
it
was
well
attended.
We've
had
some
soccer
camps
on
out
there.
We
had
a
couple
of
5k
races.
That's
went
on.
Of
course,
our
splash
park
has
really
taken
off
in
the
last
few
years
and
as
hot
as
it's
been,
it's
been
really
busy,
I'm
sure,
I'm,
sure
hi.
A
B
An
hour
13
and
14
year
old,
baseball
program.
We
we
sanctioned
with
an
organization
called
Dixie
boys,
baseball
and
each
year
they
they
do
a
district,
regional
and
World
Series
level
tournament
and
we've
hosted
the
district's,
we've
hosted
States
and
we
also
hosted
World
Series
in
the
past
and
what
that
is,
is
basically
teams
from
Virginia
all
the
way
to
Texas
play.
Dixie
boys
baseball
and
the
state
champions
from
those
states
will
travel
here
and
compete
for
the
World
Series
title
and
we
will
also
have
a
host
team.
B
In
each
age
group,
one
team
for
the
13
year
olds
and
one
team
for
the
14
year
olds
they've
been
practicing
playing
games
all
summer,
trying
to
get
ready
prepared
for
that
so
we'll
play
that
will
start
July
thirty-first
and
go
through
August.
Fifth,
with
that
the
championship
game
wraps
up
Wednesday
morning,
weather
permitting
course.
So,
hopefully
we
have
good
weather,
and
some
of
these
thunderstorms
will
subside
sure
and
you.
B
We'd
like
to
wind
up
by
nine
or
ten
tonight,
you'll
see
in
the
first
few
days,
though
there'll
be
some
extra
inning
games.
That
will
really
push
us
back,
but
we'll
start
at
one
o'clock
on
saturday
n
sunday
that
that
weekend
we
do
have
an
opening
ceremony,
the
friday
night
prior
to
have
that
at
USC
a
convocation
center
will
introduce
all
the
teams
and
the
communities
welcome
to
come
out
and
attend.
That
will
start
that
around
seven-thirty
that
evening.
So
do
you
have
opening.
A
B
A
B
Part
of
our
bid
package
was
that
we
have
to
put
all
these
teams
up
or
at
least
provide
a
certain
number
of
rooms.
We
provide
five
rooms
per
night
for
these
teams
and
our
city,
hotel
yrs,
have
just
really
stepped
up.
They're.
Very
gracious
with
us
they've
helped
us
tremendously
to
help
us
every
weekend
host
these
events,
and
so
all
the
teams
will
be
staying
in
city,
hotels
and
there
they'll
be
dispersed
around
from
the
south
side
over
to
the
west
side.
B
A
B
B
This
term
is
a
little
bit
higher,
but
it's
eight
dollars
a
day
for
an
adult
5
for
a
child.
A
dollar
per
ticket
goes
to
a
scholarship
fund
for
for
these
kids
and
dixie
awards
at
each
year,
and
so
the
money
is
going
for
a
good
cause
and
it
is
very
expensive
to
hostos
tournaments.
That's
why
the
prices
is
just
a
little
bit
higher
than
our
normal
tournaments,
but.
A
B
A
B
Well,
we'll
update
the
scores
on
our
Facebook
page,
we'll
try
to
do
it
on
our
channel
for
site
as
well.
We
recently
come
to
an
agreement
with
Dixie
and
jock
job.com
they're,
going
to
livestream
the
final
for
the
semi-finals
and
final
games.
That
will
happen
on
Tuesday
night
Wednesday
morning,
of
course
weather
permitting.
So
really
anybody
anywhere
could
get
on
Jacques
job
calm
those
days
and
see
the
live
stream
of
the
final
games.
Jock.
A
B
Each
location,
the
World
Series,
is
held
the
Tuesday
of
the
event
they
host
their
annual
meeting.
So
all
the
even
at
our
event
that
Tuesday
morning
all
the
state
directors
will
come
together.
They'll
have
their
national
meeting
so
three
years
ago
they
had
their
national
meeting
and
we
attended
that
and
we
developed
a
bid
package
to
go
in
and
say
this
is
what
we
will
offer.
This
is
what
our
hotels
can
offer
you,
here's
the
amenities
our
Park
has
we
go
in
and
make
a
presentation.
B
A
B
We
have
a
lot
of
amenities
inside
citizens.
Part
and
our
hotels
are
close.
Our
restaurants
are
closed.
You
can
be
anything
within
five
minutes
and
our
community
embraces
them
and
makes
them
feel
welcome.
You'll
see
the
Marquis
along
whiskey,
road
and
pine
log
have
welcomed
Dixie
boys,
World,
Series
and
and
Dixie
takes
note
of
that
in
a
larger
community.
They
may
not
have
the
buy-in
that
we
do,
but
our
community
really
embraces
it
and
helps
us
out
with
that
I.
B
A
B
We
end
that
tournament
on
Wednesday
morning,
hopefully
that
Saturday
and
Sunday
we
host
a
you
triple
s.
A
southeast
baseball
regional
will
be
using
citizens,
part
and
us
cas
baseball
stadium.
We're
expecting
about
50
teams,
kids
from
eight
to
18
years
old,
be
playing
that
event.
The
following
weekend.
We
have
we
host
the
Powell
5k,
the
Blue
Knight
run
will
be
at
citizens,
part
that
starts
around
7pm
they're
taking
registrations
for
that
now,
that's
a
very
large
run
for
us,
and
really
the
community
really
gets
behind
that
event.
B
Pickleball
is
relatively
new.
It's
been
four
or
five
years
now,
but
we've
had
a
tournament
the
last
few
years
and
it's
it's
grown
every
year
and
we're
expecting
about
160
180,
pickleball
players
to
come
in
from
around
the
southeast
and
even
internationally.
We
had
a
group
from
Scotland
traveled
over
the
last
few
years,
how
that's
played
in
it,
and
we
play
that
a
todo
weeks,
all
right.
B
You
take
a
pick
up
now.
It's
really,
you
know
kind
of
a
hybrid
between
tennis
and
badminton,
but
you
play
with
like
a
wiffle
ball,
it's
a
smaller
paddle,
it's
a
composite
or
wooden
paddle.
It's
a
compressed
court,
a
little
smaller
than
a
tennis
court,
and
he
play
it's
very
similar
to
tennis
and
that
you
score.
You
know
based
off.
B
If
your
opponent
can
return
your
server
your
hit
or
not,
and
it's
a
very
fast-paced
game,
usually
games
or
matches
can
be
over
in
10
to
20
minutes
and
then
you're
moving
on
to
another
competitor,
and
so
it's
a
very
quick
game
and
people
like
that.
You
get
to
play
many
different
opponents
quickly
and
it's
a
fun
event.
It
takes
all
day
for
us
to
play
those
matches,
and
you
know
it
doesn't
matter
about
someone's
age.
B
B
B
B
A
B
We
make
a
loop
around
the
soccer
fields
and
come
back
and
go
down
pine
log
road,
so
everybody
on
pine
log
roads
can
see,
and
then
you
make
the
loop
back
around
and
finish
up
and
it's
just
a
really
great
event.
The
PAL
stands
for
the
Police
Athletic
League
and
they
are
there
to
assist
those
kids
that
you
know
maybe
or
having
some
struggles
in
their
life
and
it's
a
501c3.
B
A
It's
it's
open
to
anyone.
I
know
the
worry.
I
have
I've
read
it
once.
I'm
probably
gonna.
Try
it
again.
This
year's
you
just
don't
want
to
get
lapped
when
those
guys
come
back
around
the
real
fast
guys.
You
got
to
keep
going
all
right
summer.
Will
wind
down
the
fall,
is
a
huge
time
for
athletics.
Tell
us!
What's
going
on
in
the
fall
all.
B
Right,
we
run
a
full
array
of
youth
programs
during
the
fall.
Of
course,
our
largest
is
our
soccer
program.
We've
got,
girls
only
leads,
we
got
coed
they'll
be
playing
and
it's
a
competitive
league
during
the
fall,
which
means
we
will
do
a
post
season
of
tournament
for
the
older
age,
kids
it'll
be
run
at
citizens
park
and
odo
weeks,
usually
around
600
kids
in
that
program
in
the
fall
we'll
also
do
flag
football,
which
is
relatively
new
program.
B
We
sanctioned
through
the
NFL,
so
the
kids
get
a
little
mini
replica,
NFL
jersey,
it's
reversible,
it's
really
taking
off
and
we're
expanding
the
age
groups
and
that
from
5
to
12
kids
can
play
in
that
we've
also
got
a
girls.
Volleyball
program
will
hold
its
taken
off.
Recently,
we've
expanded
the
the
grades
that
girls
can
compete
in
that
from
fourth
to
ninth
grade
and
it's
all
girls
and
whoop,
so
those
are
basically
the
and
we
also
have
the
cheerleading
that
goes
along
with
the
flag
football
as
well.
B
B
B
Unfortunately,
for
first
time
folks
they
have
to
come
in.
You
know
in
sports
we
we
divide
up
the
kids
by
age
group
and
and
we
do
check
birth
certificates
for
first
time
participants.
Just
you
know
it's
made
some
national
news
for
kids
playing
out
of
their
age
group
and
we
do
check
that.
But
once
we
check
that
the
first
time
we
get
you
in
our
system,
you're,
good
and-
and
you
can
go
on
the
city's
website
once
you've
come
in
and
showing
your
birth
certificate
and
you
can
register
there.
So,
okay.
A
B
We
rent
the
splash
park
on
a
limited
basis.
We
want
it
to
be
open
to
the
public
as
much
as
possible,
k.
Saturday
mornings
there's
two
time
slots
in
the
morning
from
like
9
30
to
11,
11,
to
12,
30
and
then
again
on
Sunday
mornings
and
sunday
mornings.
We
haven't
seen
a
great
turnout.
We
just
make
it
available
to
folks
but
Saturday
mornings.
B
Almost
all
of
our
saturdays
are
rented
out,
and
so
we
do
put
up
signs
saying
it's
a
private
parties
to
try
to
give
its
clue
civet
e
to
the
part
while
you're
in
it.
So
what's
the
hours-
and
we
start
most
mornings
from
like
tuesday
through
friday,
is
9am
to
8
p.m.
at
night.
Of
course
we
don't
open
it
during
our
rentals
on
the
weekend.
Door
opens
at
1pm
on
the
weekends
and
goes
till
about
dusk
each
evening
about
8pm
and
the.
B
It's
free
anytime,
you
kids
want
to
go
out
there
take
them.
You
know
it's
been
real
popular
with
the
younger
kids.
We
won't
encourage
people
to
be
safe
while
they're
out
there
what
the
kids
are
on
the
slides
and
things
that
can
slip
so
just
be
careful,
but
have
a
good
time
with
it
and
the
water
is
as
hot
as
it's
been
an
aching.
The
water's
very
refreshing.
B
A
B
A
B
Happens
to
get
locked
in,
but
it's
a
great
amenity
for
us.
We
used
to
have
portal
it's
out
there
and
and
that
just
made
people
a
little
uncomfortable
having
nice
clean,
restrooms
out
there
that
can
service
our
soccer
population,
the
folks
at
walk
the
track.
So
those
are
those
are
open
most
hours
of
the
day.
Okay,
now.
A
B
Well,
really
any
of
our
full-time
staff
can
talk
with
an
individual
and
see
what
their
needs
are,
what
their
desires
are
and
we'll
sit
down
and
work
out.
The
logistics
of
that
I
mean
you
need
a
place
to
play
a
facility
a
time,
and
then
we
would
have
to
determine
our
cost
of
that.
But
we've
seen
the
the
bubble,
soccer
and
I
think
knocker
balls.
B
What
they've
called
it
and
we're
still
kind
of
feeling
that
out
a
little
bit,
it
looks
a
little
bit
unsafe,
but
I
hear
that
it's
pretty
safe,
but
any
time
someone
will
start
a
new
program
or
see
something
like
that.
Come
to
us.
Of
course,
we
would
have
to
put
it
in
our
budget
and
try
to
make
that
work.
So
the
timing
is
important
on
that,
but
would
be
happy
to
sit
down
with
anyone
that
wants
to
start
a
new
program.
Good.
A
B
Mark
Calvert's,
our
tennis
pro
Aaron,
does
a
wonderful
job
for
us.
We
also
have
some
part-time
staff
that
run
a
pro
shop.
We
sell
skirt
shorts
shoes,
tennis
racquets,
do
racket
stringing
they're
inside
the
Pro
Shop.
We
also
have
contracted
instructors
along
with
mark
who
offer
clinics
and
lessons.
We
do
summer.
Youth
camps
up
there,
we've
partnered
with
our
recreation
centers,
to
offer
some
clinics
for
the
kids
that
are
in
day
camp
a
todo
week,
Smith
hazel,
so
they
do
a
very
good
job
at
trying
to
keep
the
courts
full
up
there.
A
B
We've
hosted
the
adult
state
championships
at
different
levels:
there's
lower
levels
like
a
25
or
30
up
to
a
more
skilled
level,
which
is
like
a
45
or
50.
Usually
those
state
championships
are
held
in
may
and
they
do
them
by
different
age
divisions.
You
may
have
18
to
2
40
year
old
group,
and
then
you
may
have
a
40
on
over
group.
We've
hosted
those
we've
hosted
the
senior
state
championships
in
the
fall,
we're
open
to
working
with
socking
line
of
the
usta
or
Southern
USDA
on
any
other
events.
B
But
we
people
really
like
our
tennis
center,
feel
like
it's
world-class
tennis
facility
and
our
partners
around
the
area.
Private
partners,
woodside
houndslake
from
ATO
usca,
even
North
Augusta,
has
pitched
in
and
helped
us
host
those
events,
because
we
need
upwards
of
60
cores
to
host
it,
and-
and
we
don't
have
quite
that
capacity
with
us-
we're
around
26
courts.
A
B
They
could
come
into
the
tennis
center
and
talk
with
mark
go
to
any
other,
their
country,
clubs
and
speak
with
those
folks,
maybe
get
them
on
a
team
they're.
All
those
groups
have
teams
that
play
in
those
there's
morning
league
ladies
tennis
there's
evening.
Usta
leagues,
but
I
would
encourage
anyone
that
wants
to
know
just
come
in.
You
come
in
two
weeks.
Tennis
senator
speak
with
one
of
our
staff
at
mark
Calvert,
and
he
can
help
get
you
headed
in
the
right
direction.
Ok,.
A
B
The
Aiken
community
tennis
association
started
a
few
years
ago,
and
there
is
an
adult
area,
tennis
league
as
well,
that
runs
the
adult
programs
to
the
CTA,
has
really
started,
focusing
on
the
youth
and
trying
to
reach
those
guys
and
really
have
taken
off
in
the
last
two
years.
Under
the
guidance
of
jack
mills
and
his
board,
they've
run
free
play
days
for
youth.
They've
run
some
clinics
this
summer.
Up
at
the
public
corset
behind
odo
weeks,
they
have
big
plans
for
the
fall
enter,
possibly
introducing
junior
team
tennis.
B
There's
another
played
a
free
play
day
for
kids
to
come
out
and
get
professional
instruction
from
area
pros
that
will
be
September.
The
14th
I
believe
it's
a
Saturday.
If
people
want
more
information
than
call
the
week's
Tennis
Center,
but
all
the
pros
from
the
different
clubs
and
organizations
will
be
there
hopefully
that
day,
22
just
introduced
tennis,
two
kids,
those.
B
A
B
A
B
You
know
we're,
you
know
we
just
help
kind
of
organize
things,
but
we're
so
dependent
upon
quality
volunteers.
We
don't
get
out
and
coach
the
kids
or
you
know
we're
not
the
direct
contact
for
most
kids
once
that
Coach
is
in
place.
They
are
the
way
we
communicate.
We
communicate
through
the
coach
coach
communicates
through
those
kids,
and
so
really
the
experience
that
a
child
or
parent
has
is
dependent
upon
the
quality
of
our
coaches,
and
so
we're
always
in
need
of
quality
coaches.
Okay,
I
want
to.
B
What
do
I
do
come
see
us?
You
can
call
us.
We
do
ask
that
you
complete
an
application
with
us.
We
do
a
background
check
on
folks.
We
also
have
about
a
three
hour
introductory
to
coaching
new
sports.
That's
done
through
a
National
Association.
We
try
to
certify
our
coaches
through.
So
we
do
some
background
screening
to
make
sure
that
you
know
if
parents
dropping
their
kids
off.
This
person
has
got
a
clean
record
behind
them
and
we
also
want
to
help
train
them
and
put
them
in
the
best
position
to
be
successful
and.
B
Coaches,
we
do
a
full
national
background
check
on
assistant
coaches.
We
try
to
get
those
names
and
we
do
a
sex
offender
registry
check
on
those
any
time.
Anybody
has
any
concerns
about
a
coach
or
anything
like
that
would
be
more
than
happy
to
look
into
it,
but
we
try
to
take
great
caution
in
that.
Okay,.
A
B
We're
always
in
need
of
that.
You
know
it's
a
tough
job.
It's
a
thankless
job.
Really,
we
do
pay,
our
officials
are,
refs
are
on
pyres,
and
now
we're
always
looking
for
for
folks.
That
would
like
to
do
that.
Maybe
learn
a
little
spending
money
in
the
evenings
or
weekends.
We
can
help
get
them
start
in
the
right
direction.
Okay,.
A
B
Of
course,
lacrosse
and
rugby
are
starting
to
take
hold
around
the
area.
It's
headed
this
way.
You
know
we're
seeing
that
people
want
multiple
seasons
of
sports.
They
don't
want
just
one
sport
or
one
season
in
the
spring.
They
want
a
spring
and
a
fall
or
a
winter
in
a
summer,
so
we're
trying
to
find
ways
to
accommodate
those
needs.
B
B
We're
really
dependent
upon
volunteers,
there
there's
a
buddy
sports
board
there
that
steps
in
and
helps
us
out,
because
we're
not
experts
and
really
anything.
We
do
a
lot
of
good
things,
but
you
know
those
folks
that
raise
those
children
and
and
really
volunteer
a
lot
of
time
have
more
expertise
than
that.
We
just
try
to
accommodate
them,
provide
the
fields
space
and
that
type
of
thing
for
him.
Okay,.
A
B
Right
now
we're
hosting
most
everything
its
citizens
part
this
outdoor.
You
know,
we've
had
some
concerns
or
calls
for
just
just
soccer
fields.
Soccer
can
be
strenuous
on
just
regular
grass
field
a
lot
of
play
on
it.
They
can
wear
down
over
time.
So
we
have
to
manage
that
throughout
the
year,
but
we
would
like
to
see
some
some
soccer
facilities
on
that
end.
You
know
maybe
football
facilities
there
as
well,
and
maybe
you
know
the
astroturf
is
kind
of
taking
hold
in
some
communities.