Victoria's pro soccer team, the Victoria Highlanders, has played 5 of their 8 regular-season home games this season (as of July 1, 2009) in their brand-new state-of-the-art facility ("City Center Stadium"). In those five home dates, they have averaged 1,622 fans per game. In total, their attendance for 63% of their entire home schedule is 8,110 fans. That's right, a total of 8,110 fans.
By comparison, the Victoria Seals have played 14 of their 41 home games this summer in a quaint ballyard that hasn't been described as state-of-the-art since the 1950's. In those 14 games they have averaged 2,229 fans per game. In total, their attendance for only 34% of their entire home schedule is 31,212 fans.
If we extrapolate these numbers, the Highlanders will draw a total of approximately 12,976 fans in 2009, while the Seals will draw an impressive total of roughly 91,407 fans. For every fan who attends a pro soccer game in Victoria this summer, another seven will have gone to see a professional baseball game. So the next time somebody asks what the most popular summer sport is in Victoria, you'll be able to accurately answer: BASEBALL!!
Chris VanRossum lays down a perfect bunt single in the seventh inning on Canada Day. He eventually scored Victoria's only run in a 2-1 loss before 3,521 rabid baseball fans.
Probable pitchers for the remainder of the Tucson series at Royal Athletic Park:
- Thursday @ 7:05 PM: Isaac Hess (5-0, 2.46 ERA) vs. Lorenzo Barcelo (4-3, 3.33 ERA)
- Friday @ 7:05 PM: Eduardo Baeza (1-6, 8.37 ERA) vs Dan Knox (2-0, 4.11 ERA)