After 963 days, Vancouver Canadians are back at Nat Bailey Stadium
The Vancouver Canadians have returned to Nat Bailey Stadium after nearly three years.
The last game was on Aug. 30, 2019 – that’s 963 days ago.
“Whether it's 963 days, 96 days or nine days that's too long away from that Bailey stadium for the Cs in my opinion,” said Tyler Zickel, manager of broadcasting and media relations for the Canadians.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the Cs – the only Canadian Minor League Baseball team – stayed in the Portland area because of border and travel restrictions.
“We were welcomed by the community, but it's nothing like playing in front of the home faithful up here in Vancouver,” Zickel said.
The return also comes with some changes. The team has a new manager, North Delta’s own Brent Lavallee.
His mother brought her own team of supporters to cheer on her son, who grew up coming to The Nat and watching the Canadians.
“This is his dream job. He's pretty happy. It's surreal to be here with his friends and family and other teammates and local coaches that have coached him since he was a little guy in tadpole baseball,” said Tammy Frinskie-Lavallee.
It was announced that the team will become a High-A affiliate to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020, but this is the first time the home crowd could experience what these changes will mean.
The season is longer, which is why the Home Opener is in April and not June, and there will be 66 home games, double what there was before.
“(Jays prospects) would often skip coming to join the Canadians but now they’'ll certainly suit up in the red and white and looking forward to just putting together a better product on the field, thanks to our partners the Toronto Blue Jays,” he explained.
Despite a successful road trip, 6-2 record for the young season, it was not the home opener fans were expecting.
The Canadians lost to the Eugene Emeralds 6-5.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.