Adding one day of games in which tickets are required and celebrating two notable anniversaries are among the new, notable things that will be happening at this year’s 77th Little League World Series.
In previous years, the only games that required tickets to view the games were on championship weekend, but this year, the games on August 18, the date of the MLB/Little League Classic, have been added. That evening, the MLB Classic will feature the Detroit Tigers vs. the New York Yankees at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
According to Lauren Rude, Coordinator of Communications for Little League Baseball International, this was done to assist with crowd control and provide an enjoyable experience for all fans. Little League will use tickets for access to Lamade Stadium on Sunday, August 18. All sections outside of Section 1 of Lamade Stadium will require a ticket, which will be distributed on the morning of Sunday, August 18, in pairs of two at Will Call. The single ticket will be for both games scheduled that day in Lamade Stadium and will have section, row, and seat information.
On Championship weekend, tickets are required to gain access to Lamade Stadium for all Championship games. They are typically unavailable to the general public as they are provided to league volunteers and special guests. If tickets become available, they will be distributed at Will Call on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and Sunday morning at 7 a.m.
Two notable anniversaries are being celebrated, one of which is the 50th anniversary of the inclusion of girls in Little League Baseball. The 50th anniversary celebration has been dubbed “Girls with Game 50.”
The other is on Tuesday, August 20, when Little League will celebrate Dugout’s 39th birthday, remembering the day Dugout made their Little League debut in 1985. To celebrate the day, the first 5,000 fans to visit the Little League Fan Zone will receive a commemorative Dugout birthday pin. Everyone will also sing Happy Birthday to Dugout during the 4th inning stretch of the 7 p.m. game at Lamade Stadium.
Two other interesting events related to the LLWS are the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby Championship, which is on Thursday, August 22, at 5 p.m., and the Little League Challenger Division Game, broadcast by WVIA and Presented by Eggland’s Best, which is on Saturday, August 24, at 10:30 a.m.
The Little League International Complex will open most days at 10 a.m., and visitors must enter through the Main Entrance, located off East Mountain Avenue near the batting cages.
There are new Clear Bag Policies and Prohibited Items/Permitted Item Policies in place this year.
Here is the Clear Bag Policy that will be in force at the LLWS
“Over the past few years, many stadiums, sports organizations, and other event venues have implemented a clear bag policy to enhance the safety and security of their events at the urging of law enforcement agencies. The safety and security of everyone on our complex remains a top priority for Little League International, and this policy will serve as an additional way to enhance those efforts with the support of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In addition to increasing the safety standards at the Little League World Series, this policy will assist Little League in expediting entrance into the complex to provide visitors with the best possible experience during their time in Williamsport.”
As part of the policy, the following bags are permitted at the security checkpoint at the Little League International Complex:
• Clear Bags in the material of Plastic, Vinyl, or PVC (20”x20”x6” or smaller)
• Clutch purse/wristlet/belt bag (6.5”x 4.5” or smaller)
• Please note: Clear Bags will be available at all security checkpoint that meets size requirements. In addition, the following bags are permitted at the security checkpoint at the Little League International Complex but may be subject to a thorough bag search. Visitors with these bags should plan to arrive earlier as they may experience a longer wait at security:
• Diaper Bags (person carrying diaper bag must be accompanied by a child under the age of three)
• Medical Necessary Bags
PROHIBITED BAGS include but are not limited to
• Any bag that is not clear unless stated above as permitted.
• Clear bags larger than 20”x20”x6”
• Mesh Bags
• Tinted or Printed Pattern Plastic Bags
• Hard or Soft Coolers
As always, fans can carry approved personal items in their pockets or jackets, including keys, phones, wallets, and credit cards. Bags that do not meet the policy are prohibited from entering the complex. Relocation/disposal of non-permissible bags off the Little League International Complex will be the owner’s responsibility. No bag check will be available. Little League International is not responsible for items left behind, lost, stolen, or damaged.
As a reminder, free parking is available directly behind the Little League International Complex, with easy access to the security checkpoint for individuals needing to return non-permissible bags and items to their vehicles. To provide additional support to those visitors who have prohibited items that they would like to return to their vehicle, Little League International will offer cart shuttle service from the gate entrances to the designated parking lot areas throughout the entirety of the event. Individuals using other transportation or parking are encouraged to fully review Little League’s prohibited items list before departing for the Little League International Complex. NOTE: This policy pertains to bags and is not an all-inclusive list of items that are prohibited from being taken into the Little League International Complex. Guests are encouraged to bring only necessary items into the complex, and all fans and their belongings are subject to inspection at the entrances. Please review the complete Prohibitive Items List for the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series.
The information about parking and transportation includes: Focusing on making the event an affordable and family-friendly event, FREE PARKING is available in the South Williamsport Sports Complex (617 E. Mountain Avenue), directly behind the Little League International Complex. Parking is also available in the Transit Authority parking deck located on Third Street in Downtown Williamsport, where River Valley Transit Shuttles are available to transport guests to the Main Entrance of the Little League World Series Complex. The Shuttles are located one block over off Pine Street.
During the course of the LLWS, fans will have the chance to experience 38 baseball games between Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium, with Championship Weekend on August 24-25.
