Nat Bailey Stadium
Nat Bailey Stadium, also known as The Nat, is a baseball stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is home to the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League.
The Nat | |
 | |
| |
| Former names | Capilano Stadium (1951–1978) Nat Bailey Stadium (1978–2009) Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium (2010–2020) |
|---|---|
| Location | 4601 Ontario Street Vancouver, British Columbia V5V 3H4 |
| Owner | City of Vancouver |
| Operator | City of Vancouver |
| Capacity | 6,500 |
| Field size | Left field – 320 ft (98 m) Centre field – 385 ft (117 m) Right field – 330 ft (100 m) Backstop – 30 ft (9 m) Outfield fence – 6–16 ft (2–5 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1951 |
| Opened | July 15, 1951 |
| Construction cost | C$550,000 ($5.32 million in 2018 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | William Aitken[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Vancouver Mounties (PCL) 1956–1962, 1965–1969 Vancouver Canadians (PCL) 1978–1999 Vancouver Canadians (NWL) 2000–present UBC Thunderbirds (NAIA) 2000–2010 | |
Stadium history
The stadium is located in Hillcrest Park immediately north-east of Queen Elizabeth Park in the Riley Park-Little Mountain neighbourhood of Vancouver. Originally built in 1951 as Capilano Stadium, it was renamed Nat Bailey Stadium in 1978 for Vancouver restaurateur (and founder of the White Spot restaurant chain) Nat Bailey after his death to honour his tireless effort to promote baseball in Vancouver. On June 16, 2010, Scotiabank and the Vancouver Canadians announced a naming rights agreement that led to the name Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium[3] until that agreement ended in 2019 and the stadium reverted to its prior name.[4]
The stadium was first home to the Vancouver Capilanos in the early 1950s and later attracted the Oakland Oaks, who became the Vancouver Mounties of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, from 1956 to 1962, and 1965 through 1969. The PCL returned to Vancouver in 1978 with the Vancouver Canadians, owned by Harry Ornest. He purchased most of the primary assets of Sick's Stadium in Seattle and shipped them north for use at Nat Bailey.[5] The Canadians stayed in Vancouver through the 1999 season, then relocated south to Sacramento, California. The following season, a second incarnation of the Canadians began playing in the short-season Class A Northwest League.
The stadium's capacity is 6,500 and as of 2019 they led the short-season A clubs in attendance and outdrew Vancouver's AAA team.[6] Their major league affiliation has yet to be determined for the 2021 seasons and beyond, but it is believed they will remain affiliated with the Blue Jays.[7]
The Canadians ownership signed a long term lease at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium in February 2007. They have significantly improved and modernized the stadium while also restoring parts of the park to their original 1951 condition.[8] The addition of Bud Kerr Baseball Museum followed in 2008.[9]
In fiction
The stadium was used as the home of the fictional Santa Barbara Seabirds Class A Minor League Baseball team in the "Dead Man's Curveball" episode of the television series Psych. It was also used as the home of the fictional Seacouver Chiefs in the "Manhunt" episode of Highlander: The Series. It's also the setting for a scene between MacGyver and Reggie Jackson in the MacGyver episode "Squeeze Play".[10]
References
- Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020. and 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- MCdonald, Brad (September 30, 2014). "Sicks' Stadium / Sick's Stadium". Baseball Fever. Baseball Almanac, Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- "Vancouver Canadians rename "The Nat"". News 1130. June 16, 2010.
- "Nat Bailey Stadium".
- "Good ol' Sicks' for sale – works". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 23, 1978. p. 18.
- "2019 Affiliated Attendance By Classification". Ballpart Digest. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- Williams, Rob (2 December 2020). "Vancouver Canadians might keep affiliation with Blue Jays after all: report". Offside Vancouver. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- Terdiman, Daniel (21 June 2006). "Wi-Fi in the minor leagues". CNET. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- "Canadians earn 2013 President's Award". Minor League Baseball. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- "MacGyver Shooting Locations". Richard Dean Anderson Website. Retrieved August 1, 2020.