Latest news with #WestCoastLeague
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton's home run draw: Riverhawks baseball flying high with crowds
Article content Record-breaking crowds and a stellar view, the home of the Riverhawks is the site of an Alberta revival of the pleasure of the $3 hotdog — and the third-highest outfield wall in professional baseball. Article content In three short years since its formation by a group of baseball-loving investors, the summer collegiate team based at Remax Field has shattered records to splinters like bats in the hands of Mariano Rivera. Article content Article content Article content Over three summers, the Riverhawks have made a grand slam, besting West Coast League attendance records, Those tallies include a sell-out crowd of 9,200 on Canada Day. Even a Tuesday-night contest of wooden bats can draw 7,000 — wild for a weeknight. Article content The iconic 30-foot-tall 'Green Monster' takes its name from the Red Sox outfield wall. It's the third-tallest in professional baseball, so Riverhawks have to find their homers on the road at the 27 away games. Article content In the field's history, only three players — Matthew LeCroy, Michael Cuddyer, and Todd Sears — have 'knocked one outta the park.' FANS FIRST, FUN FIRST Article content When the Riverhawks club was born three years ago, key organizer and investor — and former Edmonton Oilers defenceman — Dr. Randy Gregg envisioned his own field of dreams wedged into the North Saskatchewan River Valley. Article content Article content With views of the Walterdale and High Level bridges spanning the North Saskatchewan River beyond the outfield walls, it's 'arguably the second-best baseball stadium in all of Canada, behind Rogers Centre in Toronto.' Article content For Gregg, it was critical that when it was time to show him the money, fans didn't have to break the piggy bank to take themselves out to the ball game. Article content That means a $20 general admission grandstand ticket — and a $3 hotdog. Article content The beer is cold — and it's not $15. Article content To engage fans new to the love of the game, unique promotions aim to get butts into stadium seats.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Riverhawks start playoffs Friday, host Saturday game vs. HarbourCats
The playoffs are set in baseball's West Coast League, and the Edmonton Riverhawks are in them for the second year in a row. The Riverhawks clinched the collegiate summer circuit's North Division second-half crown with a 7-2 win over the HarbourCats in Victoria Wednesday night. Edmonton and Victoria finished the second half with identical 20-8 records, but the Riverhawks claimed first place as they had the better head-to-head record than the HarbourCats. They'll play each other in the best-of-three divisional round as the second and third seeds in the North starting Friday night in the British Columbia capital. The series will switch to Edmonton's Re/Max Field for Game 2 on Saturday night (7 p.m.) and, if necessary, Game 3 on Sunday at 1 p.m. The rest of the West Coast League playoff slate begins Friday as well. the top North seed Bellingham Bells are in Wenatchee, Wash., to play the fourth-seeded AppleSox; the top South seed Portland Pickles are in Marion, Ore., to face the fourth-seeded Berries; and the South's second seed, the Corvalis Knights, are in Bend, Ore., to face the third-seeded Elks. All series will switch to the higher-seeded team's ballpark for Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3. The eight teams, four from each division, that qualified for the West Coast League playoffs include each division's first-half winner and second-half winner, and the two teams in each division with the best overall records that did not win the first or second half. The Portland Pickles set the league record this year for best overall regular-season record at 43-11, while the Riverhawks set a league mark for best attendance for the third year in a row with 131,966 spectators for their 27 home games, an average of 4,887 per date at their river valley home.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edmonton Riverhawks break WCL attendance record for third straight year
For the third straight year, baseball fans in Edmonton helped the Riverhawks break the West Coast League's home-field attendance record.
CBC
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Edmonton Riverhawks break WCL attendance record for third straight year
For the third straight year, baseball fans in Edmonton helped the Riverhawks break the West Coast League's home-field attendance record.
Global News
7 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Edmonton Riverhawks break attendance record 3 years in a row
For a third straight year, the Edmonton Riverhawks have shattered spectator attendance records in the West Coast League. Just under 132,000 people sat in the stands this season. Out of the 17 teams in the WCL, the Riverhawks have now broken the attendance record three years in a row. The Riverhawks also have the largest regional population to draw from of the league, which includes teams in cities such as Kelowna, Bellingham, Portland, Victoria in B.C., Washington State and Oregon. The Riverhawks organization says its success comes down to making the games about more than just the sport. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Riverhawks general manager and 'fun adviser' Steve Hogle says it's all about the production, community, and keeping the games affordable for families. 'Every game has its own theme. Improv comics on mics and whacky contests between innings,' Hogel said. 'We're laser-focused on the fan experience.' Story continues below advertisement One example — theme jerseys such as the recent 'Green Onion Cakes' alternate identity jerseys the team unveiled his season. Previous themes included Talus Balls jerseys in 2023 and the Silver City Dragons jerseys in 2024. View image in full screen The Edmonton Riverhawks baseball players wearing their 2025 alternate identity jersey: the Green Onion Cakes, on Aug. 2, 2025. Global News As Kabi Moulitharan explains in the video above, with way fans are responding, Edmonton may not just be a hockey town — but a baseball town, too.
