The Vancouver Canadians keep on rolling.
The Northwest League baseball team continues to be a success story both on and off the field despite any obstacles it has to face.
Whether itB次元官网网址檚 an pandemic, a switch in schedules from short-season to full-season or a change in ownership, Canadians President Andy Dunn and his staff always find a way to make Nat Bailey Stadium a destination for sports fans in the summer.
The Single-A Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays won the first-half Northern Division pennant with a 38-27 record and thus has already clinched a playoff spot.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had great weather and the crowds have been great. WeB次元官网网址檝e also played great on the field. It was a little bit crazy first half because traditionally weB次元官网网址檝e never won the first half but weB次元官网网址檒l take it. We had a lot of fun and weB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to playing some baseball in late September,B次元官网网址� says the 53-year-old Dunn, who has spent time as an executive in both the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals organizations.
The Canadians have been a success both on and off the field since DunnB次元官网网址檚 arrival in 2008.
The organization has won four Northwest League Championships and has appeared in six championship series including losing to Eugene in the championship series last year.
Off the field, the Canadians regularly draw well over 200,000 fans per season at B次元官网网址淭he NatB次元官网网址� and are always looked at as one of minor league baseballB次元官网网址檚 biggest success stories when it comes to attendance.
The 2023 season also marks the first with a new ownership group in place as Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney opted to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings B次元官网网址� an American company that owns 20 professional teams B次元官网网址� this past spring.
Despite the ownership change, the organization hasnB次元官网网址檛 missed a beat.
B次元官网网址淭he transition has been fantastic. They (DBH) are the owners of the franchise and theyB次元官网网址檙e great to deal with. These guys arenB次元官网网址檛 going to show up and runs things on a day-to-day basis. TheyB次元官网网址檙e supportive and they want to do what they can to make sure that we are putting out the best product locally for our community. ThereB次元官网网址檚 been no challenge whatsoever. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a pretty seamless transition,B次元官网网址� notes Dunn.
Change is something that Dunn and the Canadians have been accustomed to the last few years.
The Covid Epidemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 Northwest League season. When the league did resume play in 2021, the CB次元官网网址檚 played out of Hillsboro, Oregon due to border restrictions.
When the team finally did return to Nat Bailey Stadium for the 2022 season, it did so with a revamped front office staff as many long-time members of the organization left during the two-year break.
Then when Major League Baseball revamped the structure of minor league baseball prior to 2022, the Canadians and the Northwest League went from playing short-season baseball from June through early September to running a full schedule starting in April.
B次元官网网址淭he weather in April is always a challenge. IB次元官网网址檓 looking at our grounds crew back then B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e out there every day trying to put out the best product they can for both for the guys on the field and for our fans to see what the fields look like B次元官网网址� and the grass isnB次元官网网址檛 even growing yet and everything is wet. We were very heavy (with games) in April. Whenever you are heavy in April, itB次元官网网址檚 always going to be tough. Not only when it comes to getting people in the building but also in our staffing levels at the ballpark because we do have so many young people working for us that are in school. You just have to grind through and get to the summer months as people will come out with the better weather,B次元官网网址� says Dunn.
The Canadians not only have a great reputation with fans when it comes to the game day experience at Nat Bailey Stadium but also in the community and with corporate partners.
When it comes to corporate partners, DunnB次元官网网址檚 philosophy is simple. If you want to be involved, the organization will find a way.
When it comes to getting fans to come out, Dunn has a simple mantraB次元官网网址� make attending a Canadians game an event that will create a memory.
B次元官网网址淲e take great pride in keeping it affordable. I mean thereB次元官网网址檚 some tough times going on right now as everythingB次元官网网址檚 going up in price, so we want to give people something fun to do. Just a few weeks ago, we had our B次元官网网址楧og Days of SummerB次元官网网址� and I think we had 700 dogs here at the ballpark. Some of those people werenB次元官网网址檛 traditional baseball fans but it was an outing and an event. It was crazy. WeB次元官网网址檝e also brought back our Superstar Nights B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 just about doing some fun things to create a memory when they come to the ballpark. ThatB次元官网网址檚 kind of what weB次元官网网址檝e always been after. We found a little bit of a formula that works and itB次元官网网址檚 just something weB次元官网网址檙e real proud of,B次元官网网址� explains Dunn.
Dunn and the organization continue to look at how the game experience can improve at Nat Bailey Stadium which means making changes to the facility that was built in 1951.
The first base side of the ballpark that currently houses the BBQ picnic area will eventually be replaced by a new clubhouse for the Canadians complete with new workout facilities and batting cages to meet MLBB次元官网网址檚 guidelines for minor league teams.
B次元官网网址淲e need to bring the ballpark up to MLB standards and itB次元官网网址檚 something that weB次元官网网址檙e pretty excited about. Hopefully soon we will be unveiling some renderings to get people excited about it and to keep building on what weB次元官网网址檝e done,B次元官网网址� says Dunn.
As for a BBQ picnic area, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be relocated.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e designing some things right now that will hopefully allow us to relocate the picnic area on the rooftop which will allow for some spectacular views. We have designers and engineers looking at that right now,B次元官网网址� notes Dunn.
When itB次元官网网址檚 all said and done, Nat Bailey Stadium will look somewhat different.
However, when it comes to a game day experience you can bet Dunn and his staff will continue to make it an affordable event.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at Today in B.C. or your local Black Press Media website.
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