The Penticton Vees of the Western Hockey League geared up for practice before their game against the Wenatchee Wild, with Riley Pollock, the team’s communication director, discussing the excitement around the Toronto Blue Jays potentially reaching the World Series. Pollock acknowledged the dilemma of choosing between the start of the baseball championship and a hockey match if he wasn’t broadcasting.
In a bid to embrace the baseball fever sweeping through Canada, two B.C. Interior WHL teams, including the Penticton Vees, decided to screen the World Series games at their arenas. The Vees planned to open the South Okanagan Events Centre early to showcase the first game on the arena scoreboard, while the Kelowna Rockets intended to do the same for the second game.
Pollock expressed enthusiasm for combining celebrations for the Blue Jays with hockey games to attract more fans. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canadians, the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliate, organized an exclusive viewing party for loyal supporters during the initial games but planned a public event at a local pub for game four.
The ongoing strike by B.C.’s public service workers, affecting liquor distribution, has led the hospitality industry to anticipate a boost in sales during the World Series. Ian Tostenson, President of the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, highlighted the positive impact of the baseball games on sales despite the challenges in liquor distribution.
Tostenson emphasized the communal aspect of sports events and the potential for increased revenue for bars during major games. While the enthusiasm for the Blue Jays has not fully spread to the West Coast sports scene, Tostenson noted the significance of such events for the hospitality industry, stating that any event can make a difference in generating revenue.
