Edmonton Seeking RFP’s for Ballpark, Affiliated Owlz a Possible Contender

The city Edmonton (AB) is accepting pitches for tenancy at Remax Field, which could ultimately push the Edmonton Prospects (Summer Collegiate, Western Canadian Baseball League) out after its 2019 season wraps up.  A possible contender is reportedly the Orem Owlz (Rookie, Pioneer League).  Read more here.

Montreal ‘Ready’ for MLB, Developer Working to Secure Land for Downtown Ballpark

Stephen Bronfman, the executive chairman of Claridge Inc. who leads a group of Montreal businesspeople seeking baseball’s return to Montreal, said Monday that he and development group Devimco are working towards securing land near downtown to build a stadium and land a Major League Baseball franchise.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Wheat City Whiskey Jacks’

PRESS RELEASE – The Expedition League’s Brandon affiliate, which will begin play in May of 2019, has announced the team’s name and unveiled the official logo. The team name is the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks and the logo, designed by Ross Johnson of Ross Johnson Design Company, has been released. Carolina Blue, Dark Gray and Light Gray are the official team colors.

Will Locals Save BorderCats?

A week ago, Northwoods League (Summer Collegiate) Chairman and Co-Founder Dick Radatz, Jr. blasted the past and current ownership of the Thunder Bay BorderCats as a “malady of incompetency.”  Below is more of what Radatz had to say:

“Very frankly, we’ve had incompetent ownership up there for quite some time, and they have not run the franchise properly.  It’s severely under-performed, and it’s a shame that the people of Canada had to experience this incompetency, truthfully.”

The franchise has clearly been an embarrassment for the powerhouse circuit for years, as it’s attendance has continued to languish at or near the bottom despite operating in a market with a population of over 100,000.  A group of local investors is scrambling to raise funds to save the franchise before the league-decreed deadline and upcoming October league meetings in Madison (WI).  Read more here.

Montreal Mayor on Return of MLB: ‘We’re In’

After 45-minutes of talks with businessmen Stephen Bronfman and Mitch Gerber about bringing Major League Baseball back to Montreal (QC), Mayor Valerie Plante said, “we’re in.”  Plante didn’t even rule out putting public money into the project, as long as it was approved by citizens in a referendum.  Read more here.

En préparation de ma rencontre de demain : arrêt au @sportsexperts et jasette avec le propriétaire @PaulAndreGoulet #polmtl #baseball pic.twitter.com/jjAwd7gASw

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) April 5, 2018

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Montreal Mayor to Meet Friday with Promoters of MLB’s Return to the City

Mayor Valérie Plante says she’s looking forward to meeting Stephen Bronfman and Mitch Garber on Friday to discuss the return of Major League Baseball to Montreal (QC).  Bronfman and Garber head a group of investors in talks to land an MLB team for the city, through expansion or relocation of an existing franchise.  Read more here.

WMBL’s Swift Current Indians Change Name, Unveil Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The 2016 Western Major Baseball league champions have a new name. Honouring the 57 seasons the team played as The Swift Current Indians, the WMBL baseball team in Swift Current will now use the nickname “57’s”.

College Interested in Kitchener Panthers Ballpark Plan

The Kitchener Panthers (Intercounty Baseball League) are in early talks with Conestoga College in Kitchener (ON) about partnering to build a shared-use, 1,500-seat baseball stadium on college land for a price tag of around $5-$10 million.  Read more here.

A Possible Site for a New Montreal Ballpark?

Montreal baseball fans dreaming of the return of major league baseball were teased once again Monday after developer Luc Poirier said that his newly purchased downtown property could become a baseball stadium.  Read more here.

Alberta Town Wants WMBL Team

Organizers in the City of Brooks in southeast Alberta, Canada, have announced that they are seeking a franchise in the summer collegiate Western Major Baseball League.  The team would play at the recently completed Brooks Quad Ball Complex.  Read more here.  Thanks to Phil Savage for the link.

WMBL Coming to Fort McMurray (AB)?

It appears as though Fort McMurray’s dream of finding a permanent tenant for Shell Place’s baseball stadium may not be that far off.  If Steve Avila of High Plains Baseball has his way, the summer collegiate Western Major Baseball League will be coming to town as early as 2016. Read more here.

250 Miles from Arctic Circle, Yellowknife Ballpark Finally Gets Grass

In the Lower 48 states, big news would be a brand new, multi-million dollar ballpark.  But in the remote provincial capital of Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) (pop. 19,234), just getting grass on the local ball field is a big deal.  This past weekend, players and volunteers laid down almost 5,000 square yards of sod at Tommy Forrest Ballpark, replacing a dust and dirt outfield that’s been the bane of outfielders’ lives for decades.  Read more and view photos here.  Read about Yellowknife here.  Read fun facts about Yellowknife here.

Dawgs Welcome 500,000th Fan to Seaman Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – Canada’s #1 summer collegiate club, the Okotoks Dawgs welcomed their 500,000th fan to beautiful Seaman Stadium on Canada Day, July 1st.

House Okotoks Dawgs Vie for Ballpark Attendance Throne in Canada

The Okotoks Dawgs (Summer Collegiate, Western Major Baseball League) opened their 2015 season at Seaman Stadium by shattering their previous opening homestand attendance record by an average of 1,000 fans per game, with 3,817 on opening night, June 5th, 3,801 on Saturday, June 6th, and 3,180 on Sunday, June 7th, for a total of 10,797.  Read press release here.

A throne fit for a king of ballpark attendance in Canada? Okotoks Dawgs Facebook photo

Montreal Mayor to Meet with MLB Commissioner to Pitch Return of Baseball

There really isn’t much new here, but Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says he plans to meet with the commissioner of Major League Baseball at the end of the month in his ongoing quest to see the sport return to the city.  Read more and watch video here.

UBC to Build Baseball Training Facility, New Ballpark Up Next

The University of British Columbia has announced plans for a new $3.5 million, 12,000 square foot training facility for the Thunderbirds baseball team.  Next up is a fundraising campaign for a new $8 million, 1,000-seat baseball stadium.  Read more here.

HarbourCats Getting New Owners

The Victoria HarbourCats (Summer Collegiate, West Coast League) are expected to announce four new owners at a news conference on Tuesday at Sports Traders Diamond at Royal Athletic Park.  The sale is expected to be approved at meetings in Tacoma (WA) on Monday.  Read more here.

Nearly 100,000 Turn Out for MLB at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium

A crowd of 46,314 at Olympic Stadium watched Cincinnati Reds blank the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 Friday night.  Read more here.  More than 50,000 people showed up as the Jays beat the Reds 9-1 Saturday afternoon.  Read more here.

Dawgs’ Seaman Stadium Rocks It in the Rockies

Canada’s SportsNet recently ventured to the foothills of the Alberta Rockies to check out Seaman Stadium in Okotoks (AB) and the summer collegiate Okotoks Dawgs (Western Major Baseball League), and they discovered that Seaman Stadium has become an amazing community gathering place.  Read more and watch video report here.

Help Name the Proposed Can-Am League Franchise in Welland (Ontario)

PRESS RELEASE – Pirates, Stompers, AquaDucks, Stars, ???… what will be the name of the next professional baseball team in Niagara Region?

Wolff Optimistic About Baseball in Ottawa

There is no owner and just one employee, but indy pro Can-Am League commissioner Miles Wolff is optimistic that there will be a baseball team in Ottawa Stadium next year.  Read more here.

Gray Predicting a Different Experience for Ottawa Baseball Fans This Time Around

Ottawa Sun blogger Ken “The Bulldog” Gray, a vocal proponent of bringing Double-A ball to Ottawa, visited Grayson Stadium last spring to experience the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) operation first hand.  While taking minor shots at the former Triple-A Ottawa Lynx (International League) and even the Toronto Blue Jays, Gray voices his expectations for a fun-filled

Despite Edmonton’s Departure, Fort McMurray Still On Track for 2013

A few weeks ago, the indy pro Edmonton Capitals decided to withdraw from the North American League and not play in 2012.  This news has not deterred the owners of the proposed new team in Fort McMurray (AB), who still plan to begin play in a new ballpark starting in 2013.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Shaw Park (Winnipeg, MB)

Baseball Road Trip visits Shaw Park (formerly CanWest Park), home of the indy pro Winnipeg Goldeyes (American Association).  Read review and view photos here.

Beacon Sports Submits Bid for Ottawa Stadium

Beacon Sports Capital Partners of Boston beat today’s 3:00 p.m. deadline to submit bids to lease Ottawa Stadium for the long haul.  Beacon Sports has been the group gunning to relocate a Double-A Eastern League franchise to the capital city starting in 2013.  Read more here.

Plans Unveiled for Fort McMurray Ballpark

The ownership group proposing to bring a new indy pro North American League franchise to Fort McMurray (AB), has launched an introductory website and unveiled plans for a new multi-purpose ballpark.  View website here.  View video renderings here.

Canseco: The NAL’s Sideshow Ambassador?

It’s cheers and jeers when Yuma Scorpions player/manager Jose Canseco takes the field at ballparks across the indy pro North American League.  Most famous for his admitted steroid use, the former MLB superstar remains the center of attention, even when venturing across the border to the Great White North.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Queen’s Park Stadium

Digital Ballparks visits Queen’s Park Stadium in New Westminster, British Columbia, former home of the West Westminster Frasers and Vancouver Mounties.  Read review and view photos here.  Don’t be surprised to see a summer collegiate West Coast League team playing at Queen’s Park in the next few years.