It’s the Welland Jackfish for New IBL Franchise

Welland Baseball Club today announced the Welland Jackfish as the new name for the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) team. The Welland Jackfish represents the city of Welland fishing past time along with the river that is home to the northern pike (jackfish). The branding was unveiled today during a press conference at Welland Stadium, which is the home for the new team.  Read more here.

Welcome Welland Jackfish!! pic.twitter.com/XbR2fXaRXk

— Intercounty Baseball (@IBL1919) October 27, 2018

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Kitchener Panthers Hitch New Ballpark Wagon to Canada Summer Games Bid

Plans for a new multi-use outdoor sports stadium in Waterloo Region (Kitchener, ON) appear to be gaining traction thanks to momentum behind the local Canada Summer Games bid.  The stadium project is being led by the Kitchener Panthers (Semi-Pro, Intercounty Baseball League).  Read more here.

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.

Fat Cats Given the Boot

With renovations to Ottawa Stadium and a Double-A Eastern League franchise on their way, the Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball League) were told to clear out of the ballpark by midnight Tuesday night.  The team would like to stay and play in 2013 while construction is going on, but it appears the Fat Cats are done.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Ottawa Stadium (Ottawa, Ontario)

Callum Hughson from MopUpDuty.com visits Ottawa Stadium, home of the semi-professional Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball League).  Read review and view photos here.

Fat Cats Fired Up Over Festival’s Damage to Field

Ottawa Stadium Group, owners of the amateur Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball League), are not happy with the condition of the field at Ottawa Stadium after the two-day Escapade (electronic) Music Festival on Canada Day weekend.  OSG estimates the damage to be $25,000 to $30,000, which they are seeking from event organizers.  Read more here.

Majors Reject, Shrug Off Challenge From Rippers

The amateur London Majors (Intercounty Baseball League) have declined a challenge by the indy pro London Rippers (Frontier League) to play a three-game series for the exclusive rights to Labatt Park and the facility’s liquor license held by the Majors.  Read more here.

Rippers Issue Challenge to Majors: Winner Takes All (Liquor License/Ballpark Rights)

PRESS RELEASE – Labatt Park isn’t big enough for the two of us.  The London Rippers are issuing a challenge to the London Majors: “Let’s Play Ball”.

Fat Cats Back for 2012, Community Group Launches Double-A Website

The City of Ottawa has worked out a deal for the Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball league) to return to Ottawa Stadium for the 2012 season, while the ballpark is being upgraded for a relocated Double-A Eastern League franchise.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, a community group has launched a new website to help stir interest in season

Fat Cats Seek Solution

Despite the decision by the City of Ottawa to move forward with renovating Ottawa Stadium to accommodate a relocated Double-A Eastern League team in 2013, the Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball League) continue to press city officials to allow them to continue playing at the facility through the 2012 season, while construction is going on.  Read more here.

More on Ottawa

As reported earlier, Ottawa has agreed to a tentative deal with Beacon Sports of Boston to bring a Double-A Eastern League franchise, expected to be the Binghamton Mets, to Ottawa Stadium in 2013.  One debate now is whether the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa Fat Cats can play this summer or not.  City staff are recommending

Ottawa Stadium: Let the Bidding Begin

The lease to use Ottawa Stadium, the current home of the semi-pro Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball League), has been put up for bid by the city, which may very well lead to a return of affiliated ball to the capital city.  The bidding process appears to be nothing more than a formality, as Double-A ball remains on deck.  Read more here.

Eastern League Could Be on Way to Ottawa, Fat Cats Willing to Coexist

Chatter continues in Ottawa (ON) that a group called Beacon Sports Capital Partners LLC is interested in buying and relocating a Double-A Eastern League team to the capital city.  The Binghampton Mets have been mentioned as a target.  Ottawa Stadium’s current tenant, the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa Fat Cats, are apparently willing to share the ballpark.

Over 7,000 Show Up to Watch Fat Cats

Saturday night was a big night at Ottawa Baseball Stadium, as 7,355 fans reportedly showed up to watch the Ottawa Fat Cats (Intercounty Baseball League) take on Barrie Baycats.  This bolstered at least one columnist’s case for a return of affiliated ball to Ottawa.  Triple-A or Double-A?  Unlikely, Mr. Gray.  Read more and watch video here.

Fat Cats, Councilors Team Up to Bring Pro Ball Back to Ottawa, Report Tabled

Feeling optimistic that Ottawa Stadium can be save for baseball, the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa Fats Cats and City Councilers Bob Monette and Rick Chiarelli are joining forces to try and bring professional baseball back to Ottawa as early as 2013.  Read more here.  On a related note, the 51-page report submitted by city staffers was tabled by the city council on Wednesday in favor of more

Report Not Good News for Baseball in Ottawa (UPDATED)

No April Fools’ Day prank here.  A report from city staff on the future of Ottawa Stadium does not bode well for the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa Fats cats or any other baseball team for that matter.  The analysis recommends keeping the stadium put, but turning it into a multi-use facility that does not appear to contemplate baseball.  Read more here and here.  In response to this attack on baseball, Fat

Local Business Journal, Councilman Show Support for Fat Cats

In a strong show of support for the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa (ON) Fat Cats, the Ottawa Business Journal has purchased 1,000 season tickets that the publication will use to reward longstanding marketing clients.  In other Fats Cats news, Ottawa City Councilman Bob Monette has promised to champion the fight at city hall to keep baseball alive and well at Ottawa Baseball Stadium.  Read more here.

IBL’s Mississauga Twins Relocate to Burlington

We don’t typically post stories about non-pro or non-collegiate adult league’s, but with the Intercounty Baseball League‘s Ottawa Fat Cats playing at 10,000-seat Ottawa Stadium, we’ll entertain a modest level of news about the Canadian circuit.  That said, the Mississauga (ON) Twins have relocated about 30 kms down the road to Burlington (ON) and will play at Nelson Park.  Read more here and here.  Both communities

Staff Recommending Short-Term Lease Renewal

With no long-term strategy determined yet for Ottawa Stadium, Ottawa (ON) city staffers are recommending a one-year lease extension with Ottawa Stadium Group (OSG), the owners of the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa Fat Cats.  If approved, $108,000 would be due in full before March 14.  The alternative would be for the city to “mothball” the ballpark for a cost of $77,000. Read more here.

Footbridge to Link Transit to Ottawa Ballpark

It appears that Ottawa Stadium is still being viewed as a valuable asset in the City of Ottawa (ON).  The city is planning to build a $9 million footbridge that would span Highway 417 to link the facility to a transit stop on the city’s east end.  The Ottawa Fat Cats from the Intercounty Baseball League are currently the stadium’s primary tenant.  Read more and view rendering here.

IBL Sued Over Deal with Ottawa Fat Cats

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is being sued by the owners of the IBL’s Oshawa Dodgers Baseball Club, who are claiming that they were working on a deal to sell their team to the Ottawa Stadium Group (OSG), when the IBL interferred and sold OSG an expansion franchise.  The OSG launched the Ottawa Fat Cats last season.  Read more here.

Fat Cats Cover Rent for 2010, Look to 2011

The Ottawa Fat Cats announced last week that they have paid the full $108,000 stadium rent due to the city for the 2010 season.  The club expects a one-year lease renewal deal to be approved in the next couple of weeks.  At this juncture, we expect the Cats to compete again in the Intercounty Baseball League, but the indy pro Can-Am League has not ruled out a return to the market.  Read more here.

Fat Cats Open Large at Ottawa Stadium

The Ottawa Fat Cats, the newest team from the Intercounty Baseball League, opened up their inaugural homestand at Ottawa Stadium last Saturday night with a reported 3,724 in paid attendance.  Read more here.  View photos here.  The reported attendance for Sunday’s double header was 2,363.  As a side note, the Fat Cats paid a $30,000 franchise fee to join the IBL and lease the 10,000-seat former home of the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx for $108,000 per year.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Ottawa Fat Cats’

Ottawa Stadium Group, the owners of a new Intercounty Baseball League franchise in Ottawa, have unveiled the team’s name and logo.  The team will be known as the “Ottawa Fat Cats.”  Could it be mere coincidence that this introduction occured shortly after Alice in Wonderland hit theaters across North America?  Read more here.  View new website here.

IBL Confirms Ottawa Entry for 2010

PRESS RELEASE – The Intercounty Baseball League today announced that the application from Ottawa Stadium Group Ltd. (OSG) has been ratified and OSG has been awarded an expansion franchise.

Ottawa Stadium Group Faces Friday Deadline

Ottawa Stadium Group, the lone bidder working to secure a lease agreement to use Ottawa Stadium, has until Friday to produce a $108,000 letter of credit and meet a number of other demands by the city. 

Reprieve in Ottawa

The Ottawa Stadium Group is being allowed to revise their bid to lease Ottawa Stadium.  As reported, OSG is proposing to bring in a new franchise from the Intercounty Baseball League.  A number of Can-Am League games might also be played at the stadium.  The revised bid will be considered by the city council on Feb. 24.  Read more here.

No Ottawa Baseball for 2010?

At least one Ottawa city councillor believes that Ottawa Stadium may sit empty this summer.  Councillor Bob Monette has indicated that city staff have told him that the bid submitted by Ottawa Stadium Group falls short of the required criteria to secure a lease.  The OSG group has apparently secured a conditional franchise with the Intercounty baseball League.  Read more here.