There’s a certain magic to playing ball under the lights, but if that’s not enough to convince council to help finance a field lighting project, Mike Holyk hopes they’ll consider what it means for sport tourism and playing time.
Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association and Holyk, its president, are seeking $175,000 in taxpayer dollars to light Mariner Field at the Serauxmen ballpark.
The ball association has already submitted an application to the Toronto Blue Jays Field of Dreams grant program in an effort to win $150,000 toward the project at Serauxmen Field – budgeted at a total $325,000. It’s a second swing at the dollars after striking out last year because it did not have municipal support. The group wants to change that, but with the application already in the hands of the Blue Jays, the city has two weeks to decide if it will commit to the project and help give the association a chance to move into a second round of consideration.
Holyk doesn’t think they’ll get a third shot at the grant and said the ask isn’t that exceptional with other cities like Kamloops, Trail and Prince George already offering lit ballfields.
“It’s hard to understand unless somebody has played the game, but there’s a quality to night baseball that’s kind of neat,” he said, adding it could be called magic without waxing too poetic. Players can see the ball better, the light contrasts with the sky and it feels like a different experience than playing in the middle of the day. Even for spectators it provides a neat experience, he said.
But this isn’t about aesthetics for Holyk, who sees benefits for the city of sport tourism and expanded baseball programming.
There are up to 18 teams competing for playing time on three fields and Mariner Field, with its 90- and 80-foot base path, is in demand.
Holyk said Nanaimo is not in a position to build a new field, but believes it could partner with the Blue Jays to get more time out of the existing facility. Installing lights would add 21 hours a week, or seven games or practices.
Holyk also said it would open up opportunities to host more regional, provincial and national championships. Tournaments traditionally draw up to 10 out-of-town teams that stay in hotels two to three nights.
The city owns the field and would manage the project. Lights have not topped the city’s priority list, but are identified as a need, according to Richard Harding, the city’s director of parks, recreation and environment, who says baseball and softball are only sports in Nanaimo without field lighting which can present issues for the shoulder season and to work later in the night.
Coun. Bill Yoachim, who heard the pitch at an open meeting Monday, said it would be nice to get lights.
Coun. Ian Thorpe said while he appreciates the work of minor ball, the reality is council has already been in budget deliberations, has a proposed budget and done its priorities for capital projects. This project hasn’t been on the radar.
“You’ve sort of thrown us a curve ball,” he said.
A report on the lighting project for Mariner Field is expected this month.