As the Penticton Vees of the Western Hockey League prepared for their upcoming game against the Wenatchee Wild, Riley Pollock, the team’s communication director, was contemplating a unique dilemma. He acknowledged that fans torn between the excitement of the Blue Jays in the World Series and the Vees’ game faced a tough choice.
Acknowledging the baseball fever sweeping through Canada, the Penticton Vees and Kelowna Rockets have decided to embrace it. The Penticton Vees will be screening the World Series game at the South Okanagan Events Centre before their own game, while the Kelowna Rockets will do the same the following day.
Pollock mentioned that the decision to celebrate the Blue Jays while attracting fans to the hockey game was an easy one for the teams. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canadians, the Blue Jays’ High-A affiliate, hosted an exclusive viewing party for select supporters and season ticket holders.
Additionally, public watch parties for the Blue Jays games have been organized by various establishments, providing a much-needed boost for the hospitality industry in British Columbia amidst the ongoing B.C. public service workers’ strike affecting liquor distribution.
Ian Tostenson, President and CEO of the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, expressed optimism about increased sales during the World Series, attributing it to the combination of beer and baseball. He anticipates a significant revenue increase for bars during the games.
Though the baseball fever has yet to fully grip West Coast sports enthusiasts, Tostenson emphasized the communal aspect of sharing sports events, regardless of the outcome. He highlighted the importance of such events for the hospitality industry, emphasizing the value they bring to establishments.