The Nanaimo NightOwls were unveiled as the newest WCL franchise at Serauxmen Stadium on Wednesday night. The team will begin play in 2021. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

play ball

NightOwls to take flight as Nanaimo’s new West Coast League baseball team

Jul 15, 2020 | 7:43 PM

NANAIMO — A name with deep historical ties has been revealed for a collegiate-level baseball team stepping up to the plate at Serauxmen Stadium in 2021.

Nanaimo NightOwls GM and managing partner Jim Swanson said their intimidating gray owl pays tribute to Snuneymuxw First Nation tradition and recognizes a successful local amateur baseball team which began play in 1921.

“I don’t know that you can draw it up any better than 100 years prior a team called the Nanaimo Owls won a championship that started three out of four years of winning that championship,” Swanson said.

The West Coast League team colours are navy blue, gold and white, while the team will don yellow unis and be known as the Nanaimo Bars during day games home and away.

Swanson said including ‘night’ in their nickname highlights the importance of newly installed lighting at the Third St. stadium.

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“It’s an integral piece because without lights there’s no West Coast League team coming to Nanaimo,” Swanson said.

The official logo of the Nanaimo NightOwls also includes a theme branding which is customary for minor league baseball teams (Nanaimo NightOwls)

More than 120 different submissions were made in a name-the-team contest announced after a WCL expansion franchise in Nanaimo was announced in March.

Swanson said the most popular ideas were Coal Miners/Miners, Bars, Pirates and Islanders. He said the organization wanted to avoid an already well subscribed nautical/boat themed team name in Nanaimo.

Several bathtub themed names were proposed.

Swanson said including the iconic Nanaimo Bar in their organization offers a fun secondary name and branding common in minor league baseball.

Save-On-Foods will provide a tray of the no-bake treats to offer to fans at opposing stadiums.

“When we arrive people know ‘Hey, that’s the team that brings the Nanaimo Bars around.’ It creates some additional buzz around the league and some additional notoriety and awareness of Nanaimo.”

The white uniform will be worn for most home games, the navy blue jersey is the NightOwls road jersey, while the yellow Nanaimo Bars brand will be worn at all day games home and away. (Nanaimo NightOwls)

Even late legendary mayor Frank Ney will be part of the fun at NightOwls/Bars games. Ney-te (pronounced Nate) will be the team’s mascot.

Swanson said NightOwls and Bars merchandise is available at NanaimoNightOwls.com.

The WCL is a 54-game wooden bat summer league for collegiate players in North American post-secondary programs.

The NightOwls are the 13th franchise in the free-agent league where players are not paid.

WCL teams are based in B.C., Washington State and Oregon and includes the Victoria HarbourCats organization.

The 2020 WCL season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes