Ownership Changes With C’s

Photo Credit D. Laird Allan/Sportswave

Changes in sport seems to be an on-going process but more so at the higher level of the game and as quick as you wrap up media day we hear that both Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney were moving on to new ventures.

They made it official by announcing the team was sold to the New York-based Diamond Baseball Holdings, who also own 16 minor league clubs. 

The current owners Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney purchased the C’s in 2007 and both have been a huge part of the C’s box success from the box office to the diamond which brought fans to the “best kept secret on Canada’s West Coast” –  Nat Bailey Stadium. 

Pat Battle and Peter Freund CEO the executive chairman of Diamond Baseball Holdings sent out a press release stating “Jake and Jeff have built a club that represents the best of baseball and a quality organization that cultivates deep engagement across many aspects of the community and we are thrilled to begin this next chapter of the Canadians story with them.” 

Kerr and Mooney will remain with the team in chairman roles.  

For its part, DBH has implemented a strategy of continuing to run its teams locally.  

“As DBH works to scale the baseball experience and enhance value for local fans, players, and visitors, we recognize and are committed to deepening this club’s important role in Vancouver,” added Battle and Freund.   

In light of all this the day after the media day it was a shock to some while others had heard rumors about this being a possibility.

Opening day or rather the first few days saw opening day pushed back that saw the opening series take on Tri-City Tuesday April 11th.

It was obvious that the weather never helped the crowd with only1,507 on hand playing in 50 degree weather with partly cloudy windy weather and depending on tomorrow’s weather pattern they are hoping to get a larger crowd.

Tri-City scored the first run in the top of the second and managed to hold on to the lead until the bottom of the fifth that carried over until the bottom of the ninth when the C’s scored the winning run.

Clearly has to be a “welcome home’ for Manager Brent Lavallee and Bench Coach Daniel Canellas and staff.

In a recent conversation with Brent he mentioned that he “feels this team is stronger than last season’s squad given the depth they have in the system.”

There are lots of games remaining until September and if you’re looking at planning a weekday nooner or a night out with the Family contact Stephen Maisey, Manager of Ticket Operations and a former Delta Minor Hockey player at 604.670.7536 ex. 380.

Enjoy your time at the Nat!!!

Some are wondering if changes this season have had an effect on the game for the enjoyment of the fans and while it has it’ll take a while to adjust to some of the changes put in place

One major change is the pitch clock has cut (almost) 30 minutes off the average MLB game, leaving fans with less time to enjoy a cold one at the ballpark.

State of play: Some teams have responded to this urgent crisis by extending beer sales beyond the end of the seventh inning for the first time in memory.

We are hearing that the Brewers were the first to make the change and have opened up beer sales until the end of the eighth inning at American Family Field.

Three other teams — the Twins, Diamondbacks and Rangers — have since followed Milwaukee’s lead, and more will likely join them.