"If You Build It, They Will Come"

Even in the best of times, it takes a strong faith to make a decision to invest money in Ocean City during the winter months.

Specifically, it demands the optimism and faith portrayed in the movie, Field of Dreams, about the farmer who builds a baseball park in his cornfield. He went forward with his dream based on confidence that, "If you build it, they will come."

In February, when the ocean is beautiful but the beach is empty, it requires strong faith to go forward. Can you imagine the wild optimism of the people who decided to build the Atlantic Hotel on a barren barrier island in 1875? What could they have been thinking?

They must have had a good instinct for what is now called "market research." The first year might have been a little slow, but before long, there were many hotels and a boardwalk.

Improvements to the Convention Center will likely prove to be just as successful in years to come.