Cooperstown All Star Village Reviews, Costs and Full Guide
If you are wondering what to expect, here are Cooperstown All Star Village reviews, and my complete guide that covers costs, lodging, the competition level, etc.
Cooperstown All Star Village Reviews
Here are what parents say about their Cooperstown Allstar experience including what they wish they had done differently.
They’ll Get Life Skills and Sense of Independence
If you value experiences more than tangible things, then the trip is definitely worth it! As parents, we go above and beyond for our children, and if you’re able to, do it.
Best of all, they get to experience college life now rather than later.
If they can make it through their stay without their parents, they’ll come out of it with valuable life skills and a sense of independence.
Seeing my kid compete and never give up was the best part.
On top of that, his last at bat for HFLA resulted in a home run, which was the cherry on top for me!
If there is one thing I wish I’d done differently, it was sign up for one of the parent challenges, like the corn hole tournament!
If you’re thinking about going and how expensive it is, my advice is to just go!
It’s better to do it than regret not going.
Your kid will remember it, and it’s an experience they’ll never forget.
Mike Kuklinski
Carson, California
Amazing Experience but… Not Worth the Cost!
We think it was a very nice experience but can’t say it was worth the COST, it was too expensive especially when we already do competitive PG games here in LA.
The best part to Cooperstown was team bonding not to mention the boys being away from parents and getting a break form us which also showed me some level of maturity with my son.
The late nights spent having lots of fun and togetherness with his teammates and still being able to rise for early games was amazing.
Also, wish I had done specialty/rare pins, this was a huge thing for him, collecting pins, was one an exciting and fun filled moments for him and his teammates.
I say, Cooperstown was an amazing experience for a 12 year old baseball player. I think after having experienced the competitions your kid should decide whether going further is something they’d like to continue or consider differently.
It’s a cost that you should plan 2 years ahead for because it’s super costly.
Something I could have done differently was do more fundraising and plan at least 2 years ahead because it’s a tidy sum.
Avian Henry
Bellflower, California
Worth It!… Fun Break from “Regular Life”
Cooperstown ASV for sure was worth it! Glad we went.
Best part was walking it off in the playoffs. That game was insane!
I wish we brought way more snacks.
We had a bunch but they were all gone before the tourney even finished.
If anyone’s thinking about going I’d say Cooperstown is fun, but then you have to go back to your regular life so be ready!
Steve Yoo
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Once in a Lifetime and Definitely Worth It!
Cooperstown All Star Village was definitely worth it!!!
Not to be cliché, but it literally is a once in a lifetime experience for the player, and being able to cheer them on while they’re having that experience is a core memory for all.
We made it essentially our family vacation for that summer, so while it wasn’t cheap, it took the place of other things we may have spent money and time on otherwise.
From a parents’ perspective the best part was getting to be witness to it all. It’s a week in the life of your son during that bittersweet time when he’s outgrowing childhood and becoming more independent. You get them set up in the bunkhouse on day one then they are on their own. Being responsible for themselves, bonding with their teammates, and meeting people from all over the country who have the common love of baseball. And as parents we get to spectate for a week, without extra work on our part. We just get to show up and cheer.
From my son’s perspective the best part was just playing baseball. 😁
Here are 2 things I wish I did differently:
- I wish we’d gotten registered sooner so we could’ve played earlier in the summer. The weather the week we went was about as good as you can get, but it was right up at the end of our summer break.
- Wish we would have pursued donation requests as it means a fundraising earlier in the process. It’s one of the easiest ways to get money, and companies like to support local sports teams, but some organizations have a slow approval process that needed more time than we gave them, so we missed out.
If you’re thinking of going… go!…
You will absolutely not regret going; it’s very likely you’d regret NOT going.
Kim Jackson
San Pedro, California
Priceless Dad and Son Moment that Can’t Buy Nor Replicate
Cooperstown All Star Village was absolutely worth it. Once in a lifetime experience!
It’s a right of passage. Dream come true. Whatever cliche you want to label Cooperstown it is an experience you can not buy or replicate.
So no matter what the cost was, it was worth it.
On a more practical note we, like most families, made it part of an extended family summer vacation to New York first to visit the iconic sites and enjoy a Yankees game. We got a great combination of visiting NY and participating in an unforgettable baseball experience.
The best part was my son David hit his first HOME RUN at Cooperstown!
Weeks leading into the trip his goal was to hit a homerun. He researched all the fields, trained hard to get stronger and improved his swing. Not only did his dream come true it was a great lesson that if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything you want. We got the ball engraved and marked at the store and it sits on his shelf. I think he will have this memory engrained in his heart forever.
One thing I 100% recommend families do and that is to rent a house close by. I stayed with two other families and our cabin was team headquarters. We hosted all the families on several occasions for dinner, we had the boys over for hot healthy meals while they explored and played in the creek and fields out back. The time spent together off the field formed a bond that even today I get excited to see the families and players. The positive spirit and community was amazing.
When we did our lemonade stand fundraiser we raised over $1000 in two hours. Many people pulled over to contribute because their kids went / they went and just stayed to chat and share stories and tips. At that moment I realized going to Cooperstown was special. David and I, as father and son, got to create a once in a lifetime experience together. I hope everyone can have the same opportunity to spend quality time with their kids.
Another suggestion I have is to make sure it’s your players own decision to want to participate. The goal should be to have fun. It is a long week in close quarters. It is often very hot and the food is not great. For motivated players they will enjoy every moment. I did see a player have a breakdown when they made an error and it was just the stress and pressure of the moment exploding. I felt his pain and frustration and I can only assume it was a deeper issue than that moment.
My Personal Experience at Cooperstown ASV
I’ve been to this tournament twice (in Aug. 2023 and in Aug. 2026) and they have made huge improvements and renovations recently that has made this tournament a lot better than Dreams Park.
Cooperstown All Star Village Guide
Location and Where Parents Should Stay
Despite its name, Cooperstown All Star Village is actually in Oneonta, New York and about 25 miles away from Cooperstown.
The address is: 4158 NY-23, Oneonta, NY 13820
Make sure you choose a hotel or Airbnb near Oneonta, NY
Lodging Recommendation
The area around All Star Village is very rural and is beautiful.
I recommend staying at an Airbnb for the small town feel (especially if you’re from a big city).
The scenery and atmosphere makes the trip memorable.
How Much Does Cooperstown All Star Village Cost?!
It costs $1,395 to register one child on a team but the total cost can be over $8,000 for just one parent and child to attend.
Here is a list of all the expenses and real cost.
1) All Star Village Price
It costs $1,395 to register one child on a team.
This fee includes:
- All games
- All you can eat cafeteria food for the child
- Lodging (Bunks)
- Pass for 1 child to attend the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Uniforms and Hats
Those are just the fees to register the child to play in All Star Village.
2) Team Fees
There are also individual team fees you have to add.
These costs include:
- Coaches Fee (2) – usually 2 hired coaches per team
- Coaches Airfare (2)
- Coaches transportation to airport (approximately $300 roundtrip)
- Parent’s airfare
- Parent’s lodging
- Parent’s rental car / transportation
- Food for parent
3) Misc Costs
There are also small misc. costs such as:
- Bath caddy
- Ponchos / umbrellas
- Pins for pin trading ($50 – $150)
- Souvenirs
If you factor these costs in, you can see how the real price is around $8,000 especially if you’re traveling from the west coast.
Recent Upgrades and Renovations
Recently they made upgrades at Cooperstown Village such as new restaurants, all turf fields, metal bunks instead of old creaky wood bunks, etc.
All these improvements helped make my second time around more fun.
Tournament Format and 6 Day Schedule
It’s a 6 day baseball tournament and here’s the schedule
Day 1: Check in, contests and opening ceremonies
Day 2: Pool Play (2 games)
Day 3: Pool Play (2 games)
Day 4: Pool Play (2 games)
Day 5: Bracket Play (single elimination) – at most 2 games
Day 6: Bracket Play (Final 8 teams left). Need to win 3 straight games to win Championship
Day 7: Check out
The tournament schedules the games so that you’ll have a day (sometime during Day 2 – 4) where you have a 8 hour break and can visit the Baseball Hall of Fame.
If your team loses early, they can always check out and leave early.
Contests
They have variety of fun contests that every team can participate:
Fastest Man – Fastest time around the bases
Home Run Derby – How many homers can you hit in 60 seconds. Coach pitch
Quickest Infield – Team that turns fastest double play
Mom’s Home Run Derby – Moms get to play too!
Pool Play
Each team has a guaranteed 6 game pool play.
You can follow the results and standings using the Sports Engine Tourney app available on iPhone and Android.
Bracket (Playoffs) Games
There are 3 brackets similar to “Gold, Silver and Bronze” format that many tournaments use.
The top 32 make it to the “Championship Bracket” (their version of Gold)
Level of Competition
The teams that participate come from all different travel baseball levels but most of the teams are not that good and around the A, or AA level.
You see many blowouts during the pool play such as this.
However it is a difficult tournament to win because there are always 5 – 10 super strong Majors teams and the ones that make it to the Final 8 are among the best of the best teams in America.
Mercy Rules
The Cooperstown All Star village mercy rule is 10 runs but it doesn’t apply until after the 4th inning!
This was something new!
The 4 inning requirement creates massive blowouts such as this.
Tips on Arrival and Check In Day
Arrival day can be crazy!
Here is a quick video on how it looks like
Here are a few things that I’ve learned from the 2 days I went to All Star Village.
Arrival Activities
You can arrive at 8:30am but check in does not start until 12pm.
The arrival area is the main walkaway with shops and restaurants.
Kids usually do 2 things
1) Pin Trading
It’s really the only time during the tournament where everyone is gathered in the same place so it’s a great time to meet new friends and trade pins.
2) Official Team Picture
This is also the time when your team may be called to get their official team photo taken.
3) Coaches Pick Up Uniforms and Package
The coaches also get to pick up their packets, uniforms, hats and can distribute to the kids.
Actual Move In To Bunks
The move in time is at 12pm and this is really the only time the parents can go to the bunks until tournament is over.
After this time the parents aren’t allowed in the bunk area anymore. Only coaches have access. If a parent wants access to their kid, they’ll need to contact the coaches.
Fields, Weather and Game Day Logistics
Here are some important details about All Star Village.
Turf Fields
The 12 baseball fields at All Star Village are all artificial grass (turf)
Make sure your child brings cleats.
Turf shoes may be slippery especially after a rain delay and it’s wet.
Cooperstown All Star Village Field Dimensions
So how big are the fields at Cooperstown All Star Village?!
Not big at all!
They’re super tiny!
The fields are intentionally tiny so that kids can hit tons of home runs.
The biggest fields are just 200 feet to centerfield and there are even 2 smaller ones that are only about 180 feet.
Field 10 is one of the smallest fields which is only around 180 feet dead center.
Home Run Ball Engraving
All Star Village also offers custom home run ball engraving at the gift shop area.
In summer of 2026, it was pretty expensive and $27 to engrave one ball so I decided not to do it since my son hit 3 homers.
If he hit only one then I probably would have done it.
If you do want a ball engraved, then you just go to the gift shop and fill out one of these forms.
Cooperstown AS Village Field Map
Weather
The weather in the Cooperstown area always rains in the summer but fortunately it’s just a brief shower and doesn’t last long.
Rain Delays
A great place to hang out during rain delays is at the new Upper Deck restaurant.
Cooperstown has turf fields so the rain delays are not that long and usually under 3 1/2 hours.
When it rains the kids go back to the bunks while the parents can hang out at the bar or at the onsite restaurants.
Late Games
Because all the pool play games are guaranteed, that means that if there is a rain delay your game maybe pushed back to the late evening because the game must be played before the games for following day starts.
For example, my son’s 6:30pm game got pushed back to 10pm.
Covered Spectator Dugouts
Spectators have covered dugouts next to the player’s dugout where you can watch the game under shade.
This makes it easy since you don’t have to worry about bringing chairs or umbrella shades.
Live Streaming
Any live streaming is not allowed at Cooperstown All Star Village (for i.e. Game Changer)
Instead you must purchase an official live Cooperstown stream for $99.
The $99 will give you access to all live games and recordings.
Once you login, there is a dashboard that will allow you to edit individual clips and download them.
I recommend you to pay the $99 and then cancel it once you have the videos you need. That’s what most people do.
Onsite Food, Alcohol and Hotel
Cooperstown All Star Village has some good restaurants and onsite amenities for you to enjoy.
Food and Alcohol
Parents can dine at onsite restaurants such as The Clubhouse or The Upper Deck.
The Upper Deck was my favorite since it has a beautiful view of the entire complex
If you want an air conditioned restaurant, then I suggest you go to The Clubhouse
Unlike the other tournament (see our full comparison on Cooperstown All Star Village vs Dreams Park), alcohol is allowed here and there is even an onsite tavern.
Hotel and Pool
Cooperstown All Star Village also has an on site hotel with a pool that parents can stay at.
All Star Village Bunks and Lodging
Staying in the bunks with your teammates is the highlight of Cooperstown All Star Village.
Note: Due to New York State fire codes there are no locks on the doors to the bunks so anyone can go in and out.
If you’re worried about things getting stolen make sure you have your child bring their own lock for their personal belongings.
All the kids stay in the air-conditioned bunks and are supervised by the coaches (who also sleep there).
Parents are not allowed at the bunks and the only time they can go there is during check in and check out.
Cafeteria Dining
The kids eat at this buffet style cafeteria that is open throughout the day. The food is decent.
Showers
There is a community bathroom every 2 bunks.
Laundry service is also available for the kids to get their jerseys cleaned.
Advice and Tips
Having been to Cooperstown All Star Village twice, here are some helpful tips.
Action Photo Package
Cooperstown All Star Village has professional photographers at the games and offers an action photo package. They will take super high quality photos of every kid and I highly recommend them.
Examples of Action Photos
Here are some pictures taken by them of my son in Aug. 2026
Pin Trading
Pin trading is a huge deal and kids love it. We recommend to bring at 25 – 50 team pins to trade.
Bunk Bed Organizers
These are super handy so buy one of these.
They’re helpful so kids can keep their clothes, toiletries and accessories organized.
Give Coaches a “Free Night”
Our team decided to let the kids stay with the parents for one night so that the coaches could have a night off and just hang out.
The coaches liked it and the kids also got to eat well and sleep well.
Have Fun and Don’t Make Baseball the Primary Thing
Don’t take the tournament so seriously.
It may be weird to hear me say that because it is a baseball tournament, but the baseball is actually secondary.
The most important thing is let your child have fun.
I had a much more enjoyable time the second time I went because I didn’t care much about the winning or how my son did and just focused on letting the kids have fun.
Years from now, your child will never remember how they did or which games they won, but they will always remember an amazing experience hanging out and sleeping with their teammates.
About Simon Chan
Simon Chan played Division 1 basketball and is a part time baseball coach.
He also has 10 years of experience in youth baseball and has 3 boys that play on various travel baseball teams in Southern California.
Outside of baseball, he is a business coach, speaker and Amazon best selling author.
