'2022 is just not possible': Edmonton Prospects' new ball field delayed

EDMONTON -

The Edmonton Prospects will stay playing in Sherwood Park for the 2022 season.

Their $50-million new ballpark in Spruce Grove won't be open next spring as scheduled, the team announced early Wednesday.

Gold Sports and Entertainment Group Corp. managing partner Patrick Cassidy called it "just not possible."

He estimated the project was put about two-and-a-half months behind schedule by global supply chain delays and shortages -- plus birds. 

The Migratory Bird Act requires a bird sweep to be done before trees are removed for a development. 

Cassidy said a sweep in the early summer, as preparations were being made to begin tree removal, found "plenty" of nests and birds. 

"We had to wait for the nesting season to end and all the birds to do what migratory birds do, which is fly south," he told CTV News Edmonton. 

Tree removal didn't start until August. 

Now, Metro Ballpark is slated to open May 27, 2023.

The timeline also factors in further delays that could be caused in supply chains. 

"Like somebody threw us a major curveball, I guess you could say," Cassidy said with a grin. 

DISAPPOINTMENT AND RELIEF 

The Prospects split 2021's home games between Henry Singer Ball Park in Spruce Grove and Centennial Park Field 9 in Sherwood Park, with a few home games hosted by their opponents. The team will do the same in 2022. 

When asked if Wednesday's announcement was a disappointing one, Cassidy replied, "Yes and no." 

"The response from the community and the metro area has just been tremendous, so we're really excited to get that ballpark in operation and available to people.

"However... It is a little bit nice to feel you've got a little more time to make it all happen in a more organized and less chaotic manner. Which a project of this size would certainly be."

He said most of the engineering and architectural design work is nearly finished, and crews were getting ready to begin drilling as early as the end of the week. 

Ballpark construction is expected to begin at the end of March or early April, whenever winter is over. 

When finished, Metro Ballpark at the corner of Pioneer Road and Highway 16A will feature a 2,200-seat grandstand, plus an outdoor amphitheatre, a microbrewery, and an 80-unit condominium complex.

The 2022 Western Canadian Baseball League schedule is out; tickets to Prospects games are expected to go on sale in the next two weeks.

As well, the team will be selling season tickets for 2023 at the new field, though Cassidy said few suites will be available that year due to an "incredible" response to the future facility.