Little League Baseball Case Study
LB Water - Overcoming Delays and Infrastructure Challenges
Little League Baseball in Williamsport, PA partnered with LB Water and Glenn O. Hawbaker to overcome delays and infrastructure challenges in constructing a new 6,000 sq. ft. Flagship store.
Background
Founded in 1939 by Carl Stotz in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Little League Baseball has grown into the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with approximately 2 million boys and girls playing around the world. With widespread participation, the annual Little League World Series has become a fixture of American culture.
The organization’s mascot, “Dugout,” was created by Disney and adds to the experience, as do historical milestones like Mo’ne Davis becoming the first female pitcher to win a World Series game.
Looking to make improvements to the fan experience and expand its year-round shopping opportunities, Little League began an ambitious project to create a new Flagship Store. The 6,000 sq. ft. Flagship Store creates a vast open retail area with plenty of room for fan team apparel, memorabilia, and other Little League items. In addition, the building has plenty of warehouse storage for Little League’s E-Commerce efforts.
The Goal
The planning for the Flagship Store began in 2018, according to sources, driven by increased attendance and a coordinated merchandise program for team regions, which increased apparel options. The original facility was no longer feasible and had reached a head in terms of capacity.
Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. was chosen to perform the earthwork and paving segments of the new Flagship Store. Glenn O. Hawbaker is headquartered in State College, PA, with a location in Montoursville, PA, one mile from the Little League complex across the Susquehanna River.
They enlisted LB Water as the supplier for the underground infrastructure products needed to complete the project. With G.O. Hawbaker leading the earthwork, LB Water supplied the critical infrastructure materials needed, including stormwater systems, sanitary sewer pipes, and waterline products. LB Water and Glenn O. Hawbaker have had a long-standing business relationship since 1972. Jason Inch, Outside Sales at LB Water, took the lead on this project to ensure its success.
Unforeseen Issues
After the planning had begun, the project encountered its first major delay: the initial groundbreaking was postponed by a year from May 2023 to May 2024, significantly shortening the construction timeline. This caused several organizational challenges to emerge, including many of the products being delivered in April, May, and June of 2023. Both LB Water and Glenn O. Hawbaker successfully coordinated with the product manufacturers to delay shipments or find storage until the restart of the project in 2024.
During the earthwork phase, several existing and unknown stormwater utility conflicts required re-engineering to avoid further setbacks. These unexpected issues required ongoing coordination across multiple teams, including engineers, inspectors, vendors, and subcontractors.
Successful Outcome
Despite these challenges, the project was completed on schedule. Glenn O. Hawbaker mobilized a fleet of machinery to handle the 13,500 yards of excavation and successfully installed 17,000 sq. ft. of Brentwood storm tanks, 660 ft. of ADS stormwater piping, and a sanitary sewer system comprising over 300 ft. of HDPE pipe. The Flagship Store was successfully connected to the Little League’s water system, which required a 6-inch tap and multiple fittings, valves, and adapters to integrate seamlessly.
The collaboration between LB Water and Glenn O. Hawbaker proved instrumental in overcoming the year-long delay and unexpected utility conflicts. Glenn O. Hawbaker’s Project Manager, Christ Stein, noted, “LB Water was a huge factor in the project’s success. Schedule changes, delivery updates, and re-routing of storm and sanitary piping were challenging. The coordination and efforts by Jason [Inch] and LB Water were highly appreciated.”
The Little League Flagship Store opened on July 12, 2024, offering fans a shopping experience that enhances the Little League World Series atmosphere.