U.S. company to ‘upgrade’ Vancouver baseball market

[SpongeG]

U.S. company to ‘upgrade’ Vancouver baseball market

The biggest operator of minor league teams has invested in the Vancouver Canadians
By Albert Van Santvoort | April 19, 2023

It’s a new day for baseball in the Lower Mainland, in more ways than one.

The sale of the Vancouver Canadians to a major minor-league-team operator promises to develop the local baseball market, and professionalize the business of the team.

Diamond Baseball Holdings, LLC will acquire the team for an undisclosed amount in a deal announced last week, ahead of the team’s season opener. The U.S. holding company currently owns 15 other Minor League Baseball teams, including the triple-A affiliates of the Major League Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

Current Vancouver Canadians owners Jake Kerr, founder of Lignum Forest Products LLP, and Jeff Mooney, chair emeritus at A&W, purchased the team in 2007. The team, they say, is not leaving Vancouver.

...

https://biv.com/article/2023/04/us-c...aseball-market

[logan5]

The article says they are going to stay at Nat Bailey, but to "professionalize" the team, either it's a major renovation of Nat Bailey, or build a new stadium. Nat Baily is ancient.

I would be stoked if they could build a new stadium in the downtown area, though hard to get land for that. A new stadium is a must though.

[madog222]

They announced Rogers bought the naming rights for "Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium" Scotiabank had the rights until a few years ago in the same format.

Originally Posted by logan5

The article says they are going to stay at Nat Bailey, but to "professionalize" the team, either it's a major renovation of Nat Bailey, or build a new stadium. Nat Baily is ancient.

I would be stoked if they could build a new stadium in the downtown area, though hard to get land for that. A new stadium is a must though.

Sounds like they'll be building an addition, hopefully the existing building gets some attention as well.

Kerr has said he’d like to stay on at least two years, which would coincide with stadium upgrades at the Nat being completed. MLB, which took over running the minors in 2021, implemented new facility standards and both Kerr and Dunn have talked about a complex being built where the current barbecue area resides on the first base side. It will be home to training areas, batting tunnels and a dining hall, and the C’s will move their clubhouse from the third base side to the first base to synch up with that.

C’s brass have never talked exactly about how much it might all cost, but it’s easy to guess it’s going be at least $10 million.

“Two things that should indicate to Vancouver fans that this team is going nowhere (else) is this deal and the fact that during the season we’re going to announce a huge project down the right field line,” Kerr said Tuesday. “Nobody would spend the kind of money that’s going to get spent if they were moving the team somewhere else.

From Steve Ewen https://theprovince.com/sports/baseb...bailey-stadium

[Migrant_Coconut]

Don't suppose we could get enough CACs for the Canada Line station at 33rd?

[madog222]

I think we would need a few Nat Bailey Towers for that!

[logan5]

Originally Posted by madog222

They announced Rogers bought the naming rights for "Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium" Scotiabank had the rights until a few years ago in the same format.




Sounds like they'll be building an addition, hopefully the existing building gets some attention as well.

From Steve Ewen https://theprovince.com/sports/baseb...bailey-stadium

The article mentioned moving up to a higher division, eg AAA. If this company wants to do that, they need to build a new stadium, or do a major Reno of Nat Bailey.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by logan5

I would be stoked if they could build a new stadium in the downtown area, though hard to get land for that. A new stadium is a must though.

I really like the current location, and it's only a 15-minute walk from King Ed station.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logan5

The article says they are going to stay at Nat Bailey, but to "professionalize" the team, either it's a major renovation of Nat Bailey, or build a new stadium. Nat Baily is ancient.

I would be stoked if they could build a new stadium in the downtown area, though hard to get land for that. A new stadium is a must though.

What? No. Nat Bailey is a perfect experience as is.

[phesto]

For all the love the Canadians get, it's still a difficult draw in April and early May.

I was at the nooner last Friday, beautiful sunny day (okay, not that warm but pleasant) and there was only a few hundred fans.

I know the overall season attendance numbers are great, but I think the business case would be much stronger to do upgrades and maybe a minor expansion at Nat Bailey than relocating to a much larger stadium for AAA ball.

[svlt]

Originally Posted by logan5

The article mentioned moving up to a higher division, eg AAA. If this company wants to do that, they need to build a new stadium, or do a major Reno of Nat Bailey.

Would be nice to play rival to the Rainiers in the PNW. Always felt Class A was a little too isolated and far too few teams (6?!) to really be invested in the league at all, felt like going to a game at the Nat was just that and none of the winning/consequences mattered.

[djh]

Originally Posted by phesto

For all the love the Canadians get, it's still a difficult draw in April and early May.

I was at the nooner last Friday, beautiful sunny day (okay, not that warm but pleasant) and there was only a few hundred fans.

I know the overall season attendance numbers are great, but I think the business case would be much stronger to do upgrades and maybe a minor expansion at Nat Bailey than relocating to a much larger stadium for AAA ball.

Maybe an upgrade to the stadium could include a retractable roof as well as more seating to make it AAA compliant/a multi-sport and attraction venue? I mean, it is so close to King Edward station and not in a residential area noise-wise (surrounded by parks and community centres), so it's sort of ideal for open-air sports in the summer and maybe mid-sized live performances for the rest of the year and in-between games? Would be way more convenient than either the PNE (no skytrain) or GM Place (terribly expensive parking and perhaps too big for the intended audience).

Just an idea if they're going to put money into upgrading it.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

What? No. Nat Bailey is a perfect experience as is.

Though the experience may be perfect, for a AAA team, Nat Bailey doesn't come close to standards of today's AAA ballparks.

The link shows CHS Field in St.Paul, MN; which opened in 2015. Not the best angle, though it shows the quality of the facility for both players and fans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHS_Fi...pening_Day.jpg

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Though the experience may be perfect, for a AAA team, Nat Bailey doesn't come close to standards of today's AAA ballparks.

The link shows CHS Field in St.Paul, MN; which opened in 2015. Not the best angle, though it shows the quality of the facility for both players and fans.

Yeah, we aren't in that league, in a number of ways. If they try for a big club and fail, they'll move the team and that will be it.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Right, this isn't exactly Step 1 for an MLB team - the Canadians are still very much Minor League.

[logan5]

Not sure if Diamond Baseball Holdings is considering rebuilding Nat Baily, but if they did, there is an opportunity to create a great view of the city and mountains for spectators if they orientated field to face north, which is the direction most professional parks face (somewhere between north and east). The view from the stands is a huge component in baseball stadium design.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by logan5

Not sure if Diamond Baseball Holdings is considering rebuilding Nat Baily, but if they did, there is an opportunity to create a great view of the city and mountains for spectators if they orientated field to face north, which is the direction most professional parks face (somewhere between north and east). The view from the stands is a huge component in baseball stadium design.

Hey! The sunburn is all part of the experience of The Nat!

[whatnext]

No doubt the same way Nordstrom wanted to upgrade our department store experience and Lowes wanted to upgrade our DIY store experience.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by whatnext

No doubt the same way Nordstrom wanted to upgrade our department store experience and Lowes wanted to upgrade our DIY store experience.

Oh man. You and Vin...

I'm sure you would be out there protesting that the new ballpark is too big for the neighbourhood, while at the same time experiencing moments of confusion, inexplicably shaking your fist at the clouds. Hopefully you can find your way home.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by logan5

Oh man. You and Vin...

I'm sure you would be out there protesting that the new ballpark is too big for the neighbourhood, while at the same time experiencing moments of confusion, inexplicably shaking your fist at the clouds. Hopefully you can find your way home.

Nah, I just question any American outfit that thinks they can just waltz into Canada and "fix" things.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Nah, I just question any American outfit that thinks they can just waltz into Canada and "fix" things.

They own 20 minor league teams. This is what they do. It would be nice to have proper urinals and not a sausage party trough.