Yesterday, May 20th, CTV News released a story announcing Dr. Randy Gregg and associates had won the battle to become landlord of Re/Max Field. Reading the story as just a baseball fan and not a business guy, this paragraph is all that mattered to me:
“He says he hopes the stadium’s current tenants, the Edmonton Prospects, will continue to play at Re/Max. And, his groups is looking to add a second Edmonton-based Western Canadian Baseball League Team.”
That implies that Dr. Gregg does not have a team. I understand you need a stadium before you go out and buy a baseball team but! If the story specifically drops the name of a league, surely then conversations have been had with the League. So using the credentials of my former website, I e-mailed the President of the WCBL.
His response was the league’s press release which is the cover photo to this article. It reads as follows:
“The WCBL has not been involved in any formal discussions regarding a second Edmonton franchise in our league in recent days. “I attended meetings with the city of Edmonton in February where the current situation of Re/Max Field was discussed. Since that time, nothing has changed on that front meaning that the Prospects have and will continue to have the territorial rights to the greater Edmonton area as provided for by unanimous consent of the WCBL Board of Governors” stated WCBL President Kevin Kvame on Thursday.
In the past months, the League has communicated the franchise and territorial information to both Mr. Gregg and the City of Edmonton to ensure they are both aware of these clauses.
The league values the prospects commitment and dedication to the WCBL and building a sustainable baseball product in the Alberta Capital. We hope that all parties continue to make this possible.”
Let’s review:
CTV says: ““He says he hopes the stadium’s current tenants, the Edmonton Prospects, will continue to play at Re/Max. And, his groups is looking to add a second Edmonton-based Western Canadian Baseball League Team.””
The WCBL says: “…the Prospects have and will continue to have the territorial rights to the greater Edmonton area as provided for by unanimous consent of the WCBL Board of Governors” stated WCBL President Kevin Kvame on Thursday.
In the past months, the League has communicated the franchise and territorial information to both Mr. Gregg and the City of Edmonton to ensure they are both aware of these clauses.”
It is long been believed that current Prospects owner Patrick Cassidy would not play tenant in a building which he is currently the landlord. A tweet by one-time Edmonton media icon John Short confirms this notion:
Pat Cassidy has said he won’t play in Gregg-controlled Telus Field. He has declared an interest in Stony-Spruce area and I believe he wants to be there. Two Edm teams plus one in Stony Plain would be too many.
— John Short (@JohnShort_JXS) May 21, 2020
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One would be naive to believe this was not stated during previous meetings with the City and the League.
The title of this article is, “Will There Be Baseball In Edmonton in 2021?”. If Pat Cassidy’s Prospects won’t take a Gregg owned Re/Max Field, and Dr. Gregg does not have a baseball team, the answer to the question could be no.
Edmonton Sports Fan 