Just another dumpy stadium in this city. By far the worst collection of sporting venues in the entire country. This dump should be torn down already.
It's home to the UofC Baseball team... Babe Ruth... Baseball Calgary... Sr. Men's ... Why should it be torn down it gets used almost daily - there really isn't any facilities in this city for baseball at that level besides Optimist and Glenmore that are decent... I coached at UofC and we had to play a DH at Optimist because of the Viper holding spring camp - there were 13 home runs in the two games - might be good for 16-18 year old's but doesn't cut it for collegiate play and that level.
We will never see another AAA level team here ... but we could see a Rookie league team - look at how successful Vancouver's team is - same deal they had a team in the PCL with the Cannons - kept the facility going with the UBC team and the same kind of teams using Foothills until someone came along with a short season A club and it's packed every night.
We will never see another AAA level team here ... but we could see a Rookie league team - look at how successful Vancouver's team is - same deal they had a team in the PCL with the Cannons - kept the facility going with the UBC team and the same kind of teams using Foothills until someone came along with a short season A club and it's packed every night.
I actually think that league is the sweet spot for Calgary baseball. We are weather constrained in this city and any baseball league that plays night games in April and May will never survive in this market. Baseball starting the middle of June and running to the end of August lines up perfectly with when Calgary weather is at it's best.
People might point to the Dawgs and Vipers experience and highlight how those didn't work in Calgary, however I would counter that affiliated ball (while it might actually be a worse quality of baseball than the Dawgs or Vipers) would give it an aura of professionalism / association with the Major Leagues that kept the casual fan away from those teams.
Agreed... However its a misconceptions that the WMBL (Dawgs) would be better than a Rookie League team and to say that they are better than the Vipers were is just not true.
WMBL players are college level players - just learning to swing wood, the speed of the game etc... While Rookie level players aren't that much more advanced they are still advanced players - the level of play is DRAMATICALLY better and far more consistent.
The Vipers (more so the Northern League version than the GBL version) is FAR superior to the Dawgs - no contest... You have the majority of players that have played for professionally for 2-3 years - you even have the odd player on each team with big league time.
The Dawgs might claim they are equal or superior - but they aren't even close... Just like Vipers fans would have said I bet the Vipers could play with the Cannons - it wouldn't even have been close.
The Dawgs play great baseball and have an amazing program don't get me wrong I know them and the founders of the program well - all I'm saying is saying the WMBL is even or better that Northern League or Rookie league is just not accurate.
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It's home to the UofC Baseball team... Babe Ruth... Baseball Calgary... Sr. Men's ... Why should it be torn down it gets used almost daily - there really isn't any facilities in this city for baseball at that level besides Optimist and Glenmore that are decent... I coached at UofC and we had to play a DH at Optimist because of the Viper holding spring camp - there were 13 home runs in the two games - might be good for 16-18 year old's but doesn't cut it for collegiate play and that level.
We will never see another AAA level team here ... but we could see a Rookie league team - look at how successful Vancouver's team is - same deal they had a team in the PCL with the Cannons - kept the facility going with the UBC team and the same kind of teams using Foothills until someone came along with a short season A club and it's packed every night.
The field is useful. The rest of the stadium likely requires updated tetanus shots before entry. It really should be torn down and replaced with something nicer and simpler. Especially if your goal is rookie league or single-A. And the latter is unlikely given the closest NWL outpost is 8 hours away by car, and probably closer to 10 by bus. We'd need to pair up with Edmonton to make it worth while, and that would mean either two relocations concurrently or two team expansion at the MLB level.
I actually think that league is the sweet spot for Calgary baseball. We are weather constrained in this city and any baseball league that plays night games in April and May will never survive in this market. Baseball starting the middle of June and running to the end of August lines up perfectly with when Calgary weather is at it's best.
People might point to the Dawgs and Vipers experience and highlight how those didn't work in Calgary, however I would counter that affiliated ball (while it might actually be a worse quality of baseball than the Dawgs or Vipers) would give it an aura of professionalism / association with the Major Leagues that kept the casual fan away from those teams.
Yeah. I used to frequent games in the middle of summer and they were great fun. Problem was that evenings don't get comfortable in Calgary until June so crowds were sparse to start the season not to mentioned all the games that would be postponed annually by snow. I can't imagine the players enjoyed it either. Calgary could support another AAA team but they would need an indoor facility and there's no way that's going to get funded.
I miss the Cannons. My uncle (RIP and actually my moms cousins husband) was Russ Parkers right hand man for that club. Oh the stories he told me. Great dude and miss him a ton as well. But that baseball team was so much fun and were pretty good a few years. I will forever remember when the Mariners screwed the Cannons during that championship series.....forget what year that was. Doubt Russ ever got over that reaming.
I think that was 1991 when they called up a handful of guys right before the finals, including closer Dave Burba.
We had a 2-0 series lead then lost the next three in Tucson.
I feel like if Calgary had a team right now, they would do incredibly well with crowds. After the Jays 15/16 playoff runs - seems like baseball has really picked up some steam here.
There's a small outfit in Edmonton doing mostly vintage Edmonton baseball gear, but they do have a Cannons cap. My kids bought one for me for Father's Day. Ross Flats
