Blue Jays: Cool venues to play a regular season game
By Brent Cardy
Blue Jays vs Seattle Mariners at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is an underrated and passionate baseball city. This was due to the help to a passionate restaurateur and the man responsible for the first drive in restaurant in Canada, Nat Bailey. Bailey was a massive supporter of Little League Baseball in Canada and was a part owner of the Vancouver Mounties of the Pacific Coast League. Vancouver was talked about a few years ago as a temporary home for the Arizona Diamondbacks as they were having issues with their stadium Chase Field.
In 1951 Capilano Stadium was built and the ballpark was renamed after Nat Bailey in 1978 for all of his contributions to baseball in the city. Much of the original parts of stadium have stayed in tact over the years even after renovations.
The Toronto Blue Jays and the Vancouver Canadians have had a relationship since 2010. The Canadians have won many championships with Blue Jays prospects including three in a row 2011-2013 under current Major League Coach John Schneider and Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullogh. Starting pitcher Alek Manoah was the most recent Canadians alumni to join the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Seattle Mariners ballpark T-Mobile Park is only 2 hours and 30 minutes from Nat Bailey Stadium. If you pack the stadium full with 6,500 fans I’m sure it’d be just a blast. The Hey Y’all Porch and the evergreen trees just outside of the outfield walls are something to look at. The grounds crew at Nat Bailey have won many awards under Head Groundskeeper Ross Baron. Baron won three straight Northwest League Sports Turf Manager of the year awards. There is no doubt that if Major League Baseball came to the Nat, Ross and his team would be ready. Vancouver will be ready to rock as well.