As the Penticton Vees from the Western Hockey League prepare for practice ahead of their match against the Wenatchee Wild, who are based in Washington state, Riley Pollock is preoccupied with another rivalry.
“Many fans, some waiting for years or even their entire lives, are eager to see the Jays compete in the World Series, and they are also devoted Vees supporters,” remarked Pollock, the team’s communications director and “Voice of the Vees.”
Deciding between a new season of Canada’s beloved game and the finals of America’s pastime poses quite a dilemma.
“If I wasn’t the one broadcasting the game, it would be a difficult choice for me,” Pollock confesses.
The Penticton Vees are among the teams that will broadcast the Blue Jays’ World Series game on Friday, reflecting the growing baseball enthusiasm across Canada. (Penticton Vees/X)
At least two teams in the Western Hockey League located in the B.C. Interior have decided to embrace the baseball excitement rather than resist it.
The Penticton Vees plan to open the South Okanagan Events Centre two hours prior to the game to showcase the first World Series game on the arena scoreboard and on rink televisions.
On Saturday, the Kelowna Rockets will host a similar event for the second game.
“We figured that celebrating [the Blue Jays] while encouraging people to attend our game would be a great idea,” Pollock stated.
While hockey teams are getting involved, the minor league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Vancouver Canadians, is keeping its celebrations more exclusive.
The Jays’ High-A affiliate is hosting an invitation-only viewing event on Friday, primarily for season ticket holders and their most dedicated fans.
However, on Tuesday, the team plans to organize a public watch party for game four at Hero’s Welcome, a pub located just down Main Street from Nat Bailey Stadium.
“It’s first-come, first-served,” Canadians representative Tyler Zickel informed CBC News.
“We are excited for a [game four] win.”
Bars anticipate a baseball boost
The ongoing World Series is offering a much-needed lift to the hospitality sector in B.C., especially amid the strike by B.C.’s public service employees, which has severely affected liquor supply.
Thousands of employees represented by the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) have been striking for several weeks, resulting in the closure of Liquor Distribution Branch facilities and limiting supplies to restaurants.
“Beer and baseball are a great match, so that won’t be an issue,” remarked Ian Tostenson, President and CEO of the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, regarding the World Series. “Finding a martini might be challenging, but that isn’t really a baseball drink.
“[Nonetheless], we expect to see an increase in sales of about 10 to 15 percent compared to a regular Friday night, thanks to the game. It’s positive news for us.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers and superstar Shohei Ohtani have arrived in Toronto as the favourites ahead of the World Series against the Blue Jays but Jays fans are excited and the team’s players and coaches believe in their chances.
Tostenson emphasizes that significant sports events and championships are occasions that fans wish to experience together, regardless of the outcome.
However, he notes that so far, the excitement surrounding Canada’s baseball team hasn’t fully resonated with sports enthusiasts on the West Coast nor led to a substantial revenue boost for bars.
“No, it’s not hockey. And it’s not [the] Super Bowl, but it’s something,” he remarked.
“In hospitality, we see that anything is better than nothing.”
