More than 3,000 visiting athletes were in town for the 2012 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Softball World Series. The official after party was all about making them feel welcome in the port of Minneapolis.
For the "Fleet Night" theme, dressing like a sailor was optional, but plenty of sailor-style hats were scattered around the cavernous Minneapolis Armory.
The space itself made the event unique, said producer Scott Mayer. The former home of the Lakers hosted its last public event (a Beach Boys concert) in 1972. Now used as a parking garage, the armory's amenities are minimal: "There's no water, no heating, no air conditioning and one circuit box," said Mayer.
That didn't dampen the spirits of the crowd. "It's all about the theme," said Jim Llanas, who wore sailor whites from the Army and Navy Surplus. Everyone was definitely on board.
Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177
