Despite Opening Day at Welland Stadium on May 16 being postponed due to Coronavirus, the Welland Jackfish are proud to offer fans an alternate experience by virtually broadcasting the 2019 Home Opener versus the London Majors as part of “Opening Day at Home.” Fans will have the opportunity to be part of an immersive experience with all the atmosphere and excitement of a traditional Jackfish home opener.
This virtual Opening Day will proceed much like the originally scheduled game, but this broadcast will feature multiple guest appearances including Welland Mayor Frank Campion, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and a message from IBL Commissioner John Kastner.
After these guest appearances, pre-game activities will kick off with the voice of the Jackfish Rod Mawhood welcoming fans to the ballpark as gates open, live musical performances,, Jackfish Owner Ryan Harrison will officially welcome baseball back to Welland, lineups for the Jackfish and the Majors will be announced, and the singing of our national anthem.
Following pre-game festivities, the game itself will get underway as all nine innings of the Jackfish vs. Majors matchup will be replayed. In between each inning, fans will be treated to videos of classic Jackfish in-game promotions like the t-shirt toss and Dino Dash as well as the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
“We are so excited to create this one of a kind moment for all of our fans to experience together,” said Ryan Harrison, Majority Owner and President of the Welland Jackfish, “We know that everyone in our community is going through a difficult time right now, but by bringing even a small piece of the Jackfish to our fans is an amazing opportunity to boost everyone’s spirits. Our mission is to offer the best experience in the IBL, and this is another way for us to show how much we love our fans.”
HOW TO WATCH: Subscribe to the Welland Jackfish on YouTube; the broadcast will premiere May 16 at 11:00 a.m.
While the Jackfish front office continues to work remotely, staff members are available by phone and email to answer any questions or concerns. The ticket office can be reached at info@wellandjackfish.com or 905-736-1346.
