Miles Wolff believes he has a solution for the city of Ottawa's dilemma over what to do with Lynx Stadium when its Triple-A team departs for Pennsylvania after this season.
The baseball entrepreneur wants to take over its lease, operate a team in the independent Can-Am League next season and invite Baseball Canada to take up residence in what he calls “the best baseball facility in Canada.”
Wolff, the former publisher of Baseball America who has a history of success in minor-league baseball, says he can even envision an all-Canadian minor pro baseball league that would include Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa and parts of Western Canada.
There's only one problem: The city of Ottawa may put a dome over the baseball stadium and convert it to a year-round recreational soccer facility.
“The Can-Am League would love to be in Ottawa,” said Wolff, who owns the league's successful franchise in Quebec City. “It's a great city and we've been in discussions about us taking over their lease and it seemed like it would be a seamless transition. For the national capital to be the centre of baseball in Canada would be great. We thought it was all on track.”
Unlike the Triple-A Lynx, who begin their season in April, the Can-Am League doesn't play until late May. And while the Lynx have trouble accommodating parking for more than 3,000 fans a game, that size crowd would suit the independent circuit just fine.
“Our side of it is kind of a bonus,” said Jim Baba, director general of Baseball Canada. “If we can become part of it, we could use the stadium for international competitions and training camps. You hate to see a facility that was built for baseball go down the tubes when there is someone willing to try it.”
