Economics Professor: Triple-A or Redevelopment Only Viable Options for Ottawa Ballpark

Redevelopment may be the only viable option for Ottawa’s RCGT Park, home of the Ottawa Champions (Independent Professional, Can-Am League), according to a professor at Concordia University.  Read more here.

Move to Rental Fee Will Keep Champions at Ottawa Stadium for Now

The city of Ottawa (ON) has ended the Ottawa Champions’ (Independent Professional, Can-Am League) lease at the municipal baseball stadium, but a deal has been made so that the team pays a rental fee, just like any other league or team renting city ball fields.  Miles Wolff said the club had been talking with the city for nearly two years about the terms of the 10-year stadium lease to find some way to make it more “livable.”  Under the terms of the original lease, the rent was over $400,000 a year.  The team is reportedly in arrears.  One missing piece to the Champions’ success model is the critical Confederation LRT station that was supposed to open in mid-2018, and it still doesn’t have an opening date set.   Read more here.

Pondering Redevelopment of Ottawa’s Aging Ballpark, Dreaming of MLB Affiliation

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park has been identified by city staff as one of 20 possible locations to build affordable housing, giving council a clear option of what to do with the aging baseball stadium after the current lease expires.  Read more here.

A Greater Vision for Ottawa Stadium

Ottawa Champions (Independent Professional, Can-Am League) president David Gourlay says he wants to start talking about a larger vision for the Ottawa Stadium property, especially as the city gets closer to starting a light rail system.  Read more here.

Ottawa Champions Make Debut

The first-year Ottawa Champions (Indy Pro, Can-Am League) made their debut Friday night in front of a crowd of 3,876 at Ottawa Stadium.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Ottawa Stadium Gets New Name

PRESS RELEASE – The Ottawa Champions Baseball Club will play their home opener of their inaugural season on May 22 against the Sussex County Miners in newly designated “Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park”.

Start-Up Champions Announce First GM

PRESS RELEASE – The Ottawa Champions announced the hiring of Ben Hodge as the club’s first general manager on Monday.

Ottawa to Host 2017 Can-Am League/American Association All-Star Game to Align with Canada’s 150th Birthday Celebrations

PRESS RELEASE – Ottawa Stadium and the Ottawa Champions Baseball Club will host the 2017 Can-Am League and American Association of Professional Baseball League All-Star game. Following a vote by Owner’s in both Leagues, Ottawa was awarded the 2017 All-Star game to align with the Canada’s 150th Birthday celebrations taking place in the Nation’s Capital.

Can-Am Considers Potential Sixth Franchise

Can-Am League (and American Association) Commissioner Miles Wolff recently talked with TSN 1200 radio about the start-up Ottawa Champions and the three-person ownership group that includes Wolff, David Gourley and Al Ramos.  Through the interview and in a LaPress.ca article, we learn that a suitor with “deep pockets’ and a secured ballpark is seeking an

Ottawa Champions Unveil Logos, Website

PRESS RELEASE – Today, the Ottawa Champions Baseball Club unveiled their official team logos in advance of their inaugural season in 2015. Ottawa’s newest professional sports franchise released their new corporate logo and a special baseball hat logo to be worn by the players next May when the season starts.

Checking In on the Ottawa Champions

The Ottawa Sun recently spoke with David Gourlay, team president and minority owner of the indy pro Ottawa Champions (Can-Am League), about how things are coming along for the new franchise in preparation for their 2015 debut.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

It’s the ‘Ottawa Champions’

The name for the indy pro Can-Am League expansion team that will take up residence at Ottawa Stadium in Ottawa (ON) next season will be known as the “Ottawa Champions.”  The name was announced at a press conference Monday.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.