SEG bringing summer league team to Cairns
Field
By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Everyone was all smiles for the return of the WCBL to Saskatoon. |
During a press conference on March 29 at the Indoor Training Centre, the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) and the Sask Entertainment Group (SEG) announced a new Saskatoon franchise had been granted to SEG. SEG is owned by Mike and Colin Priestner and is the parent company of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and the NLL’s Saskatchewan Rush.
The new WCBL squad
currently named the Saskatoon Baseball Club will begin play at Cairns Field on
the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds in May of 2024. Saskatoon has been
without a WCBL team since the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets ceased operations
following the 2014 season. The Yellow Jackets played out of Cairns Field from
2002 to 2014, when the WCBL was known as the Western Major Baseball League.
“A lot of people ask me why the WCBL, and I ask why not,” said Steve Hildebrand, who is the President of the Saskatoon Baseball Club. “This has been a missing piece to this community.
“It is a strong developmental league and a place for high level collegiate athletes to come back home including those from in and around Saskatoon to hone their skills during the summer. We expect to have a strong contingent of Saskatoon and area players on this team.
“We want to make this a gathering place for the community during the spring and summer. This announcement is just another testament to SEG’s commitment to sports and entertainment in Saskatoon with the Saskatoon Blades, the Saskatchewan Rush and now the Saskatoon Baseball Club.”
Kevin Kvame, who is the President of the WCBL, is pleased that Saskatoon will once again be part of the circuit.
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| Steve Hildebrand is the President of the Saskatoon Baseball Club. |
“The WCBL values the Saskatoon market. It has always felt it was missing from our family since the Yellow Jackets left in 2014. The WCBL is now 12 teams strong in the 2024 season with some wonderful facilities around the league.”
Hildebrand said he had talks with Swift Current 57s President Brad Woods about bringing the WCBL back to Saskatoon and Woods provided a lot of insight and help in bringing a new team to Saskatoon. The Saskatoon Baseball Club President added SEG owners Mike and Colin Priestner played a big part in providing the resources to allow a new WCBL squad to come to Saskatoon.
Hildebrand announced the Saskatoon Baseball Club has hired Mark Campbell as the team’s Director of Baseball Operations, and that the team is in the process of hiring a coach and a recruiter.
On top of hiring Campbell, Hildebrand announced SEG had agreed to a 10-year deal with the Gordie Howe Sports Complex to use Cairns Field and the resources at the Indoor Training Centre.
“I have a couple of people I’d like to thank in (Chairman) Bryan Kosteroski and (Operations Manager) Johnny Marciniuk of Gordie Howe Sports Complex,” said Hildebrand. “(They did) unbelievable work to get this deal done, and they deserve a lot of accolades for this announcement.
“(SaskTel Centre Executive Director) Scott Ford, I couldn’t have done this without you. I thank you for all your help through this process.”
Hildebrand added the Saskatoon Baseball Club is committed to helping Baseball Saskatoon with their Executive Director Jesse Korte and President John Povhe to grow the game, and that there will be further improvements to Cairns Field as part of the agreement between SEG and the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.
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| WCBL President Kevin Kvame is happy Saskatoon returns to the league. |
“All the changes will be in place for the start of the 2024 baseball season, and we know we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Tyler Wawryk, who is the Director of Team Business Operations for the Saskatoon Baseball Club, said the business side of the baseball team is hitting the ground running.
He said the squad will be launching a name the team campaign to help name the club.
“We want to engage the baseball community and the fans here to name the team and help be a part of bringing baseball back to Saskatoon,” said Wawryk. “We will be beginning that here through the month of May and June engaging the community.
“Hopefully by the fall, we will have a name and then begin the process of deciding on team colours and uniforms and so forth.”
Wawryk said plans are in the works to start selling season tickets for the new team in June.
“With Cairns Field having a capacity of about 2,200 seats in the ballpark, we will be beginning taking season ticket deposits in June,” said Wawryk. “We will be utilizing our space at the Sask Entertainment Group Fan Experience Zone located at the corner of 51st and Faithful where we will have team apparel and merchandise and everything that you need to get your tickets to go to the baseball games for next summer.”
Looking forward to the 2024 season, Wawryk believes fans will enjoy the game experience put on by the Saskatoon Baseball Club.
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| Tyler Wawryk leads the business side of the Saskatoon Baseball Club. |
“We look forward to utilizing all of our resources that we have at Sask Entertainment Group.”
The Saskatoon Baseball Club can be followed on Facebook @SaskatoonBaseballClub, on Twitter @stoonbaseball and Instagram @saskatoonbaseball. Watch those accounts for new on the Saskatoon Baseball Club’s website.
