Paul Archey Quotations

We set out to have the best players in the game, and I think we've accomplished that.

Major League Baseball is very interested in playing games in Europe. We're investigating possibilities in Europe where we may be able to play regular-season games as early as the 2007 season.

Frankly, I'm very excited about the prospects. As we get closer and closer, you see the interest level. I couldn't be happier about the exposure and we haven't even thrown a pitch. It's the first time we've had this event and we'll sell as many tickets as the Winter Olympics this year. That's a phenomenal accomplishment, as far as I'm concerned.

We need to provide security for the entire tournament. It's an international tournament. We think we have one of the best security forces in all of sports.

Will we sell out every game? No. Are we going to be happy with 800,000 in ticket sales? Absolutely.

We have been investigating opportunities to play in Europe for quite a while. There is certainly nothing confirmed.

We think this will be a big boost for baseball in China and it will help promote a sport that has been neglected.

Two of the most popular sporting events in the world are the World Cup of soccer and the Olympics, and one of the reasons they're successful is because they combine sport with nationalism. Any time you do that, you expand the interest in the sport.

Eligibility rules are still being discussed. It will be similar to the IBAF rules.

There's a lot of interest in us playing in London, and I think selling tickets would be the easiest part of it.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Konami as an official global partner of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Konami has always been a strong supporter of baseball and it is only fitting that they be part of this historic global event.

It's turned out to be more of a local sale on sponsorship than global. As the Classic grows that will change. We are not trying to compete with soccer, we are trying to grow the game.

They'll have the same number in their traveling party as everyone else. People outside of that will be limited, not restricted.

I'm not sure you get a ticket in San Diego at this point, and if you do you'll have an obstructed view. We sold every ticket there in very quick fashion.

I couldn't be more excited about the level of exposure, and we haven't thrown a pitch. Will we sell out every game? No. Will we be happy with 800,000 fans? Absolutely.

You can't get any. Both games sold out in a matter of hours.

The enthusiasm among fans in Puerto Rico to see this collection of players is perhaps the highest level of interest in baseball there in a long time. One of the reasons for having this tournament is to have that kind of impact globally. To build, grow or rejuvenate interest in baseball.