Welland takes the bait
Welland resident and minority owner Mike Konderka, left, and majority owner Ryan Harrison of the Welland Jackfish. Photo: BILL POTRECZ
The owner of Welland’s new franchise in the Intercounty Baseball League is setting the bar high for community support.
Ryan Harrison introduced the Welland Jackfish as the new name of the IBL franchise Saturday at the Welland Stadium and would love to see the stands filled when the 2019 season opens in May.
“A perfect world for me would be 500 a game,” Harrison said when asked for a target attendance number. “That would pay the bills, plus, in this league for sure. We’re hoping for that and more would obviously be gravy on the plate.”
Harrison, who said the franchise will operate with a budget of between $100,000 and $200,000, feels Welland Stadium is the perfect venue for an IBL franchise.
“It’s great. This is what we’ve always dreamed of having, the years that we’ve owned this team, to be here in a legitimate full-size pro stadium. That has come together for us,” he said. “The next step is to bring fans in here and make it the best entertainment value you can get around the Niagara Region.”
Harrison is part of an ownership group which includes minority owners Adam Harrison, Jason McKay, Mike Konderka, Brent Coulombe and Dan Pokoradi.
The franchise had been operating in Burlington and applied to the IBL to transfer the team to Welland for the 2019 season. Burlington has had a team in the IBL since 2012 playing out of Cosgrove Field.
IBL commissioner John Kastner welcomed the move.
“This is a really great day for the Intercounty Baseball League,” he said. “This area has a great baseball tradition.
“This franchise has done a great job attracting new demographics and new sponsorships and different people to the park. What they really needed was a new park and a community that was receptive to Intercounty baseball and the quality of entertainment it brings. I’m very excited about what’s going to happen here. It’s a terrific ownership group, a terrific park, and a great baseball community.”
Harrison said the group has big plans, on and off the field.
“We’re going to add some different seating, some club zones for groups, and we’re going to do a lot of things on field to make it very entertaining for fans,” he said. “Our approach is going to be baseball second and fun first. When you come here you can have a good time minus the baseball on the field.”
Harrison also plans to market the team across Niagara.
“We’re going to reach out to Thorold and St. Catharines and Pelham and the markets there. We’re going to have a strong visibility in the Niagara region.”
As far as the name goes, Harrison said Jackfish and Pirates were close in voting from a name the team contest, but legalities prevented the franchise from using the Pirates name. Welland was host to the Pirates, a New York-Penn League team and farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 1989-1994.
“We had a long discussion about the Pirates and that was one of the favourites that was voted on but unfortunately our hands were tied with issues with the Pittsburgh Pirates and using their logo,” Harrison said.
“The Welland Jackfish was a highly voted name and it was pretty much tied with the Pirates.”
Jackfish is a nickname for Northern pike which can be found in the Welland River. Team colours are green, blue and white.
Harrison said tryouts will be held next month.
“A lot of our roster will be local players from the Niagara region, guys who have played college or pro ball,” he said. “We do have five imports we can bring in from the States. Last year, we had guys from Colorado and Hawaii and we might bring some imports from Western Canada. We’re open to that.”
Harrison said players do not get paid but the team does cover their expenses.
The IBL celebrated their 100th anniversary last season. Other teams in the league are Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Guelph, Brantford and Barrie.
From 1985 until 1989, the Niagara Falls Mariners played out of Oakes Park.
For more information, visit www.wellandjackfish.com.
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