Mavericks owner/GM Morrison calling WCBL season ‘very unlikely’

In late April, the WCBL released a statement officially confirming opening date would be pushed back until late June or early July at the latest, though there were still hopes a shortened season could still be possible.

Alberta and Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officers have not yet lifted regulations surrounding organized sports and public gatherings, which currently limits gatherings of no more than 15 people in Alberta.

According to Morrison, time is running out to salvage the season with a deadline quickly approaching for the league’s board of governors.

“If public health officials have not cleared things by June 8, we would not be able to start in July,” said Morrison. “So, June 9 would likely be some sort of official release on that.”

A number of logistical challenges stand in the way of a WCBL season going ahead, the least of all being the roster makeup that relies on American-born talent.

Over half of last year’s 27-man Mavericks roster was made up of Americans, which wouldn’t be possible in 2020 if the border between Canada and the United States remains closed.

“They are wanting to come up here if they are allowed to cross the border from the States,” said Morrison. “If they couldn’t cross the border we’re saying, ‘Do we have enough Canadian guys where we could still have a team and field a team with a shorter roster?’”

Financially, Morrison admits the team will take a hit if there is no season in 2020 with the vast majority of their revenue dependent on tickets purchased at the gate and concession sales.

Both the Yorkton Cardinals and Melville Millionaires announced last fall that they would be taking a leave of absence from the WCBL due to financial concerns, with the pandemic causing monetary pressures for the league’s 10 other clubs.

However, there is currently no concern from Morrison regarding a potential folding of the Mavericks due to COVID-19.

“You’re not making money really unless you have a long playoff run,” said Morrison. “So, to not have a season… it’s not going to end us. Originally, I was in panic mode like everybody else for the first two weeks.”

Helping in that case has been sponsors and season ticket holders who have allowed the Mavericks to keep 2020 fees that had been paid over the winter.

“We’ve literally had sponsors who said, ‘Even if you don’t have a season, that’s okay. Hold onto our sponsor fee for next year,’” said Morrison. “It’s little things like that. Season ticket holders that allow us to push those season ticket purchases into next year, that’s huge for us right now.”

As a local small business owner, Morrison admits that there will be those in his business community that ultimately won’t be able to weather the effects of COVID-19 and that extends to baseball teams in western Canada.

Morrison said he is optimistic however that those who do come through the other side will be made stronger because of it.

“No one in this league is making money hand over fist,” he said. “It’s definitely a stress test in regards to every business. We had that stress test with the flood in 2013, it made us better surviving it. I think this will make everybody better that survives it.”

The Mavericks were to have begun the 2020 WCBL season on May 28 hosting Swift Current at Athletic Park.

by Scott Roblin

Mavericks owner/GM Morrison calling WCBL season ‘very unlikely’

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