Baseball fields need $2 million in upgrades for U-18 World Cup

Two facilities will need more than $2 million in upgrades to host next year’s U-18 Baseball World Cup but the tournament could be in jeopardy if provincial funding fails to come through.

A request for proposal will be issued for the enhancements to Port Arthur Stadium and Baseball Central in advance of the September 2017 event, following a vote by city council on Monday night.

The city has already allocated $334,000 in its capital budget for the work and is waiting on funding confirmation of more than $980,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation as well as $100,000 from the federal government.

If the provincial government funding commitment is rejected, administration recommends abandoning hosting the event.

Administration expects to receive an answer on those funding applications in the beginning of August, about 13 months before the tournament is scheduled to begin.

Even if those funding applications are successful, that leaves $722,000 in unfunded costs which the city will cover. The original resolution would have called for a portion of that money to come from money carried forward as a result of Boulevard Lake rehabilitation delays, as well as $562,000 from the Renew Thunder Bay funds.

Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds argued against diverting the Boulevard money, saying it should be left for that project, and instead introduced an amendment to have all of balance come from the renewal funds.

Council approved that amendment.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation, which oversees the tournament, requires the hosting facilities to meet the Major League Baseball winter venue field quality standards.

The improvements include the rebuilding of the infield at Port Arthur Stadium, including a new pitching mound and bullpen mound.

At Baseball Central, the main field is in line for new drainage and irrigation, new turf and clay infield including a new pitching mound. The second field needs new turf, regrading of the field and rebuilding of the infield complete with new pitching and bullpen mounds.

The event was previously hosted in Thunder Bay in 2010 when it drew 50,000 spectators and next year’s event is expected to have an economic impact of at least $4.5 million.