The Victoria HarbourCats could have an Island baseball neighbour in the West Coast League in 2020 or 2021.
The ownership group of the HarbourCats has informed the league of its interest in adding a team to play out of Serauxmen Stadium in the Harbour City.
Ownership groups can own more than one team, according to WCL rules, as long as each club sets up different baseball operations departments.
鈥淣anaimo would be an ideal market for a WCL team, and make for natural rivalries with Victoria, Bellingham, Port Angeles and Kelowna,鈥� said John Wilson, vice-president of the HarbourCats.
WCL commissioner Rob Neyer likes the idea.
鈥淲hen I was in Nanaimo last summer, I was tremendously impressed by the local passion for bringing top-flight summer baseball to this jewel of a stadium,鈥� Neyer said, in a statement.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog is also supportive.
鈥淭he City supports the expansion of the West Coast League in Nanaimo and is committed to providing assistance and co-operation to ensure the new team is set up for success at Serauxman Field,鈥� said Krog, in a statement.
Lorne Goodall, president of Serauxmen Stadium Amateur Baseball Association, is on board.
鈥淥ur group is excited to be working with the City of Nanaimo and stadium user groups to bring lights, needed upgrades and renovations to historic Serauxmen Stadium to help make a WCL team for Nanaimo a reality,鈥� he said.
A working model exists in Victoria, said HarbourCats managing-partner Jim Swanson.
鈥淭here are many aspects of our successful operation in Victoria that we can put in place in Nanaimo,鈥� he said.
