Nat Bailey Stadium
Vancouver, BC
Review by Mike
Nat Bailey Stadium is the home of the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. Opening in 1951, this splendid ballpark a few miles south of downtown Vancouver has hosted minor league baseball for most of its existence. For many years a Triple-A franchise, the Canadians have been as low on the minor league pyramid as Short-Season Class A and currently enjoy success as a High-A team, consistently among the league leaders in attendance.
Although the name is technically Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, we will choose to ignore that designation because it sounds silly. Embracing its classic ballpark architecture while providing fans with a modern game-day experience has kept the stadium at the heart of the community and kept the crowds coming. During my visit a new clubhouse with training facilities and a rooftop terrace was under construction down the right field line.
The main grandstand is big, with a massive, gorgeous roof protecting fans from the rains that often crash the gates without a ticket in the Pacific Northwest. The press box squats on top of the roof. A modern electronic scoreboard sits right next to a classic manual scoreboard in left-center field and just next to that is a small pavilion with long table tops and a roof right by the left field foul pole.
Being of a classic design, the concessions are under the grandstand and there are plenty of options along the brightly lit concourse, including sushi! There is a museum on the 3rd base side that celebrates Vancouver baseball history with photos and exhibits. All of the seats are new, the field is pristine and everything looks primed and ready for another 75 years.
Many thanks to Allan from the Canadians front office for showing me around two days after the end of the season. Nat Bailey Stadium is a 75-year-old gem that is as fresh and vibrant today as it ever was. If only they’d made the playoffs, I might have been able to see a game and cheer on the home team while enjoying a bowl of poutine.
2025
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