Goldeyes settle on Southern hospitality

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This article was published 06/05/2021 (1853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes have booked a one-way ticket to Jackson, Tenn.

The Fish announced Thursday that they will be playing their home games at The Ballpark at Jackson for the time being owing to the ongoing closure of the Canada/U.S. border. If things improve with the pandemic and the border opens up, the Goldeyes will re-evaluate the situation and look at heading north to play at downtown Winnipeg’s Shaw Park.

Until then, Jackson is where they will reside.

The Ballpark is the home of the Jackson Generals, a former Double-A club that wasn’t invited to serve as an MLB team’s affiliate for 2021. The Generals were unable to squeeze their way into a different league for this summer, leaving their ballpark, The Ballpark, empty. Unlike last season when the Goldeyes shared a facility with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, this year’s team will have a place to themselves.

“This is our home,” Goldeyes owner Sam Katz said Thursday.

“We’ll have our trainer, our (clubhouse manager). Last year was a very challenging year for (manager) Rick Forney. He was just about doing everything. He was doing the per diems, he was managing the team, he was the pitching coach. Last year for the first 10 days we didn’t even have a trainer. Rick was icing down players, he was doing everything. This year, we have a very different situation, but not to say it still doesn’t have its challenges. Obviously, we want to be at Shaw Park, God willing, that will come in the future, we just don’t know when. But I think it’ll make things a lot easier for Rick, for (hitting coach Kash Beauchamp), for players, etc. So, we’re very happy to have our home for 2021 be Jackson.”

The Goldeyes kicked off their training camp Thursday in Franklin, Wis., and will play four spring training games in the coming days before they officially open the American Association season on the road May 18 against the Sioux Falls Canaries. They’ll host the Chicago Dogs on May 21 for their “home” opener. The AA is going back to a 100-game schedule this season.

The Ballpark seats 6,000 people and fans will be allowed to attend games as they will be spaced out accordingly.

“Hopefully they’ll embrace the Goldeyes and they’ll be able to sell tickets, suites and mini-packs. The journey starts right now. I don’t want anyone thinking it will be a simple walk in the park. There will be challenges for us but I believe we can deal with those challenges as they come,” Katz said.

Another difference from last year is the fact the Goldeyes will not be living out of hotels when they’re at home as Generals’ staff is looking for host families to lodge the players. The Goldeyes will also be vaccinated this weekend.

“The pandemic has been tough on everyone, so when the opportunity to host Winnipeg arose, we were happy to help out a fellow ball club,” said Generals general manager Marcus Sabata in a statement.

“Although our fans look forward to welcoming the Generals back in 2022, I have no doubt that Jackson will show Winnipeg some true southern hospitality in the meantime. We look forward to an exciting summer of ‘J-Peg’ baseball.”

Fans can follow the Goldeyes all season long through their broadcast partner CJNU 93.7 FM. In addition to airing live on the radio, games will be streamed online at www.cjnu.ca, and video streamed through the American Association’s subscription service at www.aabaseball.tv.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31