(Above) – The three-time defending WCL Champion Corvallis Knights will help the Victoria HarbourCats open the home portion of their 2019 season on Friday, June 7, 2019 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

November 1, 2018

 For Immediate Release

VICTORIA B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce their 2019 West Coast League (WCL) schedule, one that sees the team playing at home – Wilsons’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park – on five weekends over the summer, two each in June and July, and enjoying a 12-game, 17-day home stand at the end of June and beginning of July, the highlight of which will be the ever popular Canada Day weekend against Division rival Kelowna.

The HarbourCats will again play out of the WCL North Division, joining the Bellingham Bells, Kelowna Falcons, Port Angeles Lefties, Wenatchee AppleSox and Yakima Valley Pippins. The HarbourCats and Falcons are the lone Canadian teams in the WCL.  The South Division is comprised of the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, Cowlitz Black Bears, Walla Walla Sweets, Portland Pickles and the newest league addition, the Ridgefield Raptors, who become the 12th team in the league.

With the announcement of the 2019 schedule, the team’s front-office staff can now start setting up 50-50 fundraising opportunities, solidifying important promotional nights,  booking group Party Deck and Upper Deck Experience dates, increasing their season ticket holder base and preparing for the launch of 2019 single-game ticket sales, currently targeted for early December, just in time for the Christmas season.

“This is always an exciting time of the off-season for us, when we get our schedule,” said Jim Swanson, the Managing Partner of the HarbourCats. “Now we can get busy setting up all our promotions and all the other fun activities we do at the park that keep our season ticket holders, sponsors and fans coming back year after year.  We have increased our attendance every season we have been in the league and I think this schedule, with a great mix of weekend and mid-week dates, plus an exciting stretch of games at home in late June and early July, will help us continue that trend in 2019.”

The HarbourCats open the 2019 regular season, their seventh in the West Coast League, with a three game series in Wenatchee on June 4, before returning home to face the three-time defending WCL Champion Corvallis Knights in an exciting home opening weekend series at Wilson’s Group Stadium starting Friday June 7.

After a five game road trip to Yakima and Kelowna, the ‘Cats return home Monday, June 17, as the Bend Elks invade Wilson’s Group Stadium for a three-game series, the highlight of which will be the fourth annual SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME starting at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 19.   The team then hits the road again for a single game in Yakima on June 20, followed by their first visit ever to Portland for a three-game series with the Pickles on the weekend of June 21-23.

The team then begins its lengthy home stand with a three-game set against Wenatchee on June 25, continuing with the Canada Day weekend series against Kelowna on June 29, 30, and July 1, a weekend series against division rival Bellingham July 5-7 and a three-game set with newcomers Ridgefield July 8-10.

The ‘Cats then head out on their longest road trip of the season – a seven-game stretch – starting July 11 with a game in Ridgefield, followed by three games each in Bend and Walla Walla, the only time the HarbourCats play the Sweets in 2019.  A three game home stand against Yakima on July 19-21 takes the team into the All-Star break in Bend, Oregon July 22-23.

Following the break, the team heads to Ridgefield for a pair of games on July 25-26, returns home for a three-game set with the Cowlitz Bears July 30-August 1 – including a Business Person’s Getaway Day at a special start time of 1:00 PM on Aug 1 – then heads to Bellingham for a weekend series against the Bells on August 2-4.

The HarbourCats then close out the 2019 regular season with six straight games against the Port Angeles Lefties, three at Civic Field in Port Angeles on August 6-8 and then a closing home stand here in Victoria starting Friday August 9.

The playoff structure remains the same, with two halves — winners of each half in each division advance to the WCL post-season. Should the HarbourCats make the playoffs, the Divisional Series would take place August 13-15, while the Championship Final would run August 17-20.

In addition to the 54 league games announced today (27 road and 27 home), an additional six home games are in the works (June 1-2, June 10, July 4 and July 27-28) including possible games against the team from Cuba that provided one of the most exciting nights at the park in 2018.  The team is also planning to take their show on the road again, with exhibition games in Nanaimo, as well as games in both Duncan and either Ladysmith or Port Alberni.  Without adding playoffs, that will give local baseball fans at least 33 home games, and 63 games overall in a 72-day span.

Other 2019 schedule highlights include:

• June 7-9: Home Opening weekend against three-time defending WCL Champion  Corvallis Knights, including FIREWORKS on Saturday June 8 and first Sunday matinee on June 9.
• Six scheduled 1:00 PM day games in 2019 including Sunday June 9, Wednesday June 19 (11:00 AM School Spirit), Monday July 1 (Canada Day), Sunday July 7 and 21, Thursday August 1 (Business Person’s Getaway Day) and Sunday August 11 (Fan Appreciation Day).  Three potential additional 1:00 pm games on Sunday July 2, and Saturday and Sunday July 27-28 are also in the works.
• Fourth annual SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME, Wednesday June 19, 11:00 AM.
• Canada Day Weekend Series, Saturday – Monday June 29-July 1 against Kelowna Falcons.  FIREWORKS on Sunday June 30 and Canada Day game July 1.
• WCL newcomers the Ridgefield Raptors come to town July 8-10, with Harvey’s Birthday being celebrated on Wednesday July 10.
• FIREWORKS night on Saturday July 20
• Business Person’s Getaway Day, Thursday August 1, 1:00 pm against Cowlitz.
• Final Home Series against Port Angeles, August 9-11 with FIREWORKS on Friday the 9th, Jersey Off Our Backs Night on Saturday the 10th and Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday the 11th at 1:00 pm.
• The HarbourCats do NOT visit Cowlitz or Corvallis in 2019.  Portland and Walla Walla do NOT visit Victoria in 2019.

Most home games will continue to be 6:35pm starts, with Sundays and some special games being 1:00 pm first pitch, except for Sunday June 30 a fireworks night, which will be a 6:35 pm start. The annual SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME will be an 11:00 am start time on Wednesday June 19. We will also have a Business Person’s Getaway Day, Thursday August 1, at 1:00 pm.

2019 Schedule at a Glance (Bold indicates HOME games at Wilson’s Group Stadium)

SAT JUNE 1 6:35 PM vs. TBA (Pre-Season Home Game)
SUN JUNE 2 1:00 PM vs. TBA (Pre-Season Home Game – Matinee)
TUES JUNE 4- THU JUNE 6 @ WENATCHEE APPLESOX
FRI JUNE 7 6:35 PM vs. CORVALLIS KNIGHTS (Home Opener) 
SAT JUNE 8 6:35 PM vs. CORVALLIS KNIGHTS (FIREWORKS) 
SUN JUNE 9 1:00 PM vs. CORVALLIS KNIGHTS (Sunday Matinee)
MON JUNE 10 6:35 PM vs. TBA (Non-League Home Game)
WED JUNE 12 – THU JUNE 13 @ YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS
FRI JUNE 14 – SUN JUNE 16 @ KELOWNA FALCONS
MON JUNE 17 6:35 PM vs. BEND ELKS  
TUE JUNE 18 6:35 PM vs. BEND ELKS
WED JUNE 19 11:00 AM vs. BEND ELKS (SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME special start time!)
THU JUNE 20 @ YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS
FRI JUNE 21 – SUN JUNE 23 @ PORTLAND PICKLES
TUE JUNE 25 – THU JUNE 27 6:35 PM vs. WENATCHEE APPLESOX
WED JUNE 26 6:35 PM vs. WENATCHEE APPLESOX
THU JUNE 27 6:35 PM vs. WENATCHEE APPLESOX
FRI JUNE 28 @ TBA (Non-League, Nanaimo?)
SAT JUNE 29 6:35 PM vs. KELOWNA FALCONS (Canada Day Weekend) 
SUN JUNE 30 6:35 PM vs. KELOWNA FALCONS (CANADA DAY FIREWORKS)
MON JULY 1 1:00 PM vs. KELOWNA FALCONS (Canada Day Matinee)
TUES JULY 2 @ TBA (Non-League, Duncan / Port Alberni)
WED JULY 3 6:35 PM vs. TBA (Non-League Home Game)
FRI JULY 5  6:35 PM vs. BELLINGHAM BELLS 
SAT JULY 6 6:35 PM vs. BELLINGHAM BELLS
SUN JULY 7 1:00 PM vs. BELLINGHAM BELLS (Sunday Matinee)
MON JULY 8 6:35 PM vs. RIDGEFIELD RAPTORS 
TUE JULY 9 6:35 PM vs. RIDGEFIELD RAPTORS
WED JULY 10 6:35 PM vs. RIDGEFIELD RAPTORS (Harvey’s Birthday)
THU JULY 11 – @ RIDGEFIELD RAPTORS
FRI JULY 12 – SUN JULY 14 @ BEND ELKS
MON JULY 15 – WED JULY 17 @ WALLA WALLA SWEETS
FRI JULY 19 6:35 PM vs. YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS
SAT JULY 20 6:35 PM vs. YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS (FIREWORKS)
SUN JULY 21 1:00 PM vs. YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS (Sunday Matinee)
MON JULY 22 – TUE JULY 23 ALL STAR BREAK
THU JULY 25 – FRI JULY 26 @ RIDGEFIELD RAPTORS
SAT JULY 27 1:00 PM vs. TBA (Non-League Saturday Matinee)
SUN JULY 28 1:00 PM vs. TBA (Non-League Sunday Matinee)
TUE JULY 30 6:35 PM vs. COWLITZ BLACK BEARS
WED JULY 31 6:35 PM vs. COWLITZ BLACK BEARS
THU AUG 1 1:00 PM vs. COWLITZ BLACK BEARS (Business Person Getaway Day)
FRI AUG 2 – SUN AUG 4 @ BELLINGHAM BELLS
TUE AUG 6 – THU AUG 8 @ PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
FRI AUG 9 6:35 PM vs. PORT ANGELES LEFTIES (FIREWORKS)
SAT AUG 10 6:35 PM vs. PORT ANGELES LEFTIES (Jersey Off Our Backs Night)
SUN AUG 11 1:00 PM vs. PORT ANGELES LEFTIES (Fan Appreciation Day – Sunday Matinee)
August 13, 14, 15 Divisional Playoffs
August 17, 18, 19, 20 Playoff Finals

2019 SEASON TICKETS and FLEX PACKS NOW ON SALE!

2019 Season Tickets and 10-game Flex Packs are now on sale!

2019 Season Ticket Pricing
(includes 27 league games, all exhibition games, first right of refusal on purchase of playoff tickets)

• General Admission – $350
• Premium Reserved (Sections 6-9 and 11-12 along baselines) – $450
• Grandstand Reserved (Section 10 behind home plate Row E to N) – $500
• Campbell Real Estate Club Seats (Section 10 Rows A-D) – $650
• Diamond Club (Field Level) – $725 (Limited Availability)

2019 10-game Flex Packs are also on sale at the same prices as 2018 – $120 for 10 General Admission vouchers and $175 for 10 Premium Reserved Vouchers.

To order season tickets or 10-game flex packs, drop in to the office at 1814 Vancouver Street (open 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday thru Friday), or give us a call at 778-265-0327.  You can also e-mail Christian J. Stewart, our Assistant General Manager, Ticketing and Media at chris@harbourcats.com.

Single-Game Tickets will go on sale in December of 2018.

OFF-SEASON OFFICE HOURS

With our 2018 season now being complete, our off-season office hours (to December 1) at 1814 Vancouver Street are now 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday through Friday. We are closed (or by appointment only) on Monday, Saturday and Sunday.