Border Cats optimistic about schedule release

THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Border Cats have a 72-game schedule to work with, but the question remains will they be able to play at home in 2021?

The team’s vice-president, Bryan Graham, is hopeful, citing progress on the vaccine front in the fight against COVID-19.

There are still plenty of questions that remain unanswered.

First and foremost is Canada’s land border with the United States, which remains closed after nearly nine months, to all but essential travelers.

There’s no indication at this time when it might reopen to the general public.

Secondly, Graham said he and the team’s ownership group don’t have a crystal ball and can’t say whether or not public health officials will allow the team to have fans in the stands.

They’ve got until May 31, when the Border Cats are scheduled to open their 18th Northwoods League season, to figure out the answers.

“The season is five-and-a-half months away and I think people in general, and in life, hopes that things are going to turn the corner now with the vaccine about to be rolled out,” Graham said on Tuesday, after the league unveiled its full 2021 schedule.

“I think step No. 1 is to get the border opened so we can go down and play and our American-born players can come into Thunder Bay. Then we’ll have to work with the health unit here in town and the City of Thunder Bay, if we’re playing, to find out exactly at that point, and over the course of the summer, how many fans can actually attend the games.”

Graham said the team is budgeting for about 500 fans on average, adding the ownership group believes the club could break even at that point. Port Arthur Stadium can hold up to 3,300 fans, with the potential to add additional seating in the outfield to spread attendees out even further.

“There’s no doubt. We have to have a good amount of fans at the ballpark for this to be viable, as any sports organization at any level in North America or even the world,” Graham said. “Some of the bigger leagues obviously can get by without fans and live on their TV revenue. We’re not fortunate enough to have that.”

Another important issue to be worked out is where to house the players that come in from out of town. Most years host families take in players, in return for season tickets. Until a vaccine is proven effective, it may be more difficult to convince fans to offer their homes up should the team be criss-crossing the border.

One thing is certain, if the season does get the go-ahead, the Border Cats will be making fewer trips than they do in a typical summer, with an eight-game road trip and record-setting 10-game home-stand built into the schedule.

Graham is concerned about the need for players to quarantine, but with so much uncertainty, there is plenty of time to figure that out if a season is feasible or not. 

The Border Cats spent last season as the Mandan Flickertails, playing out of a three-team hub in Bismarck, S.D. 

The team opens on May 31 at home against St. Cloud, the first of two against the Rox. They hit the road for eight games before returning home on June 10 to host the Rochester Honkers for four games. The Border Cats will host a fireworks show on June 30, the midway point of their 10-game home-stand.

The Cats have a five-game ticket package for $99 that includes and all-you-can-eat menu, a toque and a limited edition bobblehead giveaway.