Dawgs forced to suspend 2006 operations
due to lack of a facility

Calgary Dawgs Baseball Club has been forced to suspend its baseball operations for the 2006 season due to lack of a playing facility.

As a result of the inability of the Dawgs to reach an agreement as to field use in a timely fashion with the existing tenant at Foothills Stadium, the Club has been unable to make necessary commitments to its league, coaches, players, sponsors, season ticket holders and suppliers in order to operate in 2006. The Dawgs advised the WMBL at the league’s Annual General Meeting in Regina that although as in past years the Club itself was ready, willing and able to operate, it had no choice but to suspend operations for the 2006 season due to lack of a suitable facility. To be absolutely clear, we emphasize that all other necessary aspects of the Dawgs’ organization remain in tact; the only issue is the lack of a suitable facility to conduct operations for the 2006 season.

This announcement comes with extreme disappointment however the Dawgs’ organization remains very positive and encouraged by our ongoing negotiations with various local communities and institutions with a view to constructing a state of the art, 2000 seat, college or minor league styled stadium, to be dedicated to amateur use and ready for play by the 2007 season.

The Dawgs are an amateur club run on a non profit basis and since 2002, have been comprised of college baseball players who have come to Calgary from American and Canadian universities and colleges to play their summer collegiate baseball. Prior to 2002, the Dawgs were regarded as one of the pre-eminent youth development programs in Canada graduating several players to the Canadian Junior National Team program, U.S. colleges and the MLB Draft.

The Dawgs roster has always included a strong core of Calgary and area players playing at the college level. In addition, the Dawgs have partnered with over 100 charities, community groups and local, youth sports organizations during the past 3 years.

The Dawgs have successfully operated over the past 3 seasons out of Foothills Stadium. In 2003 and 2005 the Dawgs were Western Division finalists and in 2004, the Dawgs captured the championship of the Western Major Baseball League in front of 3500 fans.

In its inaugural 2003 season, the Dawgs shared Foothills Stadium with the Calgary Outlaws of the Canadian Baseball League. When the entire CBL league declared bankruptcy midway through its first season in July, 2003, the Dawgs became the primary tenant at Foothills and provided Calgary baseball fans with entertaining, Single A caliber, baseball.

In 2004, after efforts by Calgary Parks and Recreation, to convert Foothills Stadium into a multi use, soccer facility, did not proceed, the Dawgs once again became primary tenant, ultimately bringing the City of Calgary its first baseball championship in recent memory before a WMBL league record, 3500 fans.

This past 2005 season, the Dawgs shared Foothills with the Calgary franchise in the Northern League who were awarded a long term lease by the City of Calgary.

The Dawgs express their gratitude to their loyal fans and season ticket holders as well as their numerous sponsors and partners. The Club hopes to have a more positive announcement in the near future as to a new facility dedicated to amateur use for the 2007 season and beyond.