Residents and event organizers look back at the quiet summer of 2020

Head Coach & Assistant GM Nolan Rattai says he has never seen an empty stadium in the summer.

“Obviously for us, we love baseball so I’d say it’s tough. And then with residents, I’ve heard lots of people say like man, I just want to get out and watch some baseball other than on TV and get the fan experience.”

Rattai says the fans make baseball the exciting atmosphere that it is, “It was crazy playing in a fan base of 2,000. It just gets your blood going it’s just an unreal experience.”

He says they’re looking forward to next year, but COVID-19 restrictions would pretty much have to be gone to make a season feasible.

“If there are no fans, cost to travel, cost to put our team in a hotel and stuff like that so we wouldn’t be able to do it if we aren’t allowed fans,” Rattai added.

The bustle of a crowd listening to live music and entertainment was also a no-go this summer.

Kin Coulee Park sat empty in June for what would have been the Hat’s sunshine festival Spectrum.

Treasurer Bryan Petersen says it was really weird not putting Spectrum on this year, “It was our 30 anniversary this year so we’re going to bring that into next year hopefully and celebrate that as big as we possibly can.”

The spirit of summer just wasn’t the same.

“I know personally we were always at Mavericks or Rider games or something like that. We didn’t get to do any of that this year. But we did get to spend some good quality time together anyways,” Petersen said.

Adding that seasonal events are more than just something to do on a summer day.

“You get to be part of the community when you go to one of these things, right. Like with Spectrum there’s no cost to get in, you don’t have to buy anything, you don’t have to pay any money to do things you don’t want to do. You can just show up and be part of the community and see your friends and family.”

Meantime, a spin on the tilt-a-whirl, watching the rodeo, or kicking your boots up at a cabaret was also a distant memory without Medicine Hat Stampede.

General Manager Jim MacArthur says the stampede grounds are usually an anthill in July.

“Even though we’re here in September I keep thinking that the fair must be coming up. So you kind of have that sensation that it’s going to happen soon but we go week to week and things are still pretty quiet.”

He says they miss everyone and hope public health measures will improve in the near future.

“We’re a celebration. And it’s not something that you can really reach out and grab and touch. It’s something that you feel,” MacArthur added.

by Chantal Wagner

Residents and event organizers look back at the quiet summer of 2020

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