(Quebec) The days are numbered for the old yellow plaster of the Canac stadium. The City of Quebec will invest 20 million to give a makeover to its small baseball stadium located in the city center, inspired by the legendary Fenway Park in Boston.
Posted at 3:09 p.m.
The home of the Capitales de Québec needed some love. Local baseball artisans have been asking for a solution for years: renovations or even the construction of a new stadium.
Their wishes were granted on Thursday. The city of Quebec takes out its wallet. The work which will begin this summer aims to modernize the sound system, lighting, administrative offices, etc.
The appearance of the stadium will completely change: the old yellow plaster will be replaced by red brick from 2027, a nod to the surrounding neighborhoods. Total cost estimated by the City: 20 million.
PHOTO YAN DOUBLET, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
The appearance of the small stadium will completely change.
” I adore. When I saw the sketches, I liked it, we are adding beauty, I like the link with Fenway Park, that Quebec becomes the little Fenway of the North, I find it magnificent,” said the mayor on Thursday from Quebec.
Bruno Marchand took the opportunity to invite Montreal baseball fans to come take a trip to Quebec City to sample the atmosphere of the 4,300-seat stadium, home of the reigning champions of the Frontier League.
“I send an invitation not only to the people of Montreal, but to those of all of Quebec: the best professional baseball [dans la province], he is in Quebec. »
Cheaper than building
The Capitals, like the Canonniers, who manage a decorated sports-study program in baseball, have been calling for improvements for years.
The idea of building a new stadium was ruled out. “In the stadiums in different places in the League, we currently exceed 45, 50 million,” notes Michel Laplante, president of the Capitales de Québec. That’s without mentioning the location here, which is a dream location. More and more, we see projects moving away from the city center. »
The small stadium built in 1938 is in fact located in the city center. In the summer, Lowertown residents can hear the noise of the crowd and guess, with experience, whether it was a single or a home run.
In short, the Marchand administration decided to keep the stadium, but to beautify it.
“The Americans call it the Little Fenway of the North. We have the All-Star game that we are hosting this year and the owners say to each other “you don’t have to miss it, it’s like going to a little Fenway,” said Michel Laplante.
The renovation will only accentuate the resemblance. “It feels good, it’s very, very, very encouraging. I think Quebec deserves this project. »
Canac stadium is not only the home of the Capitals. In fact, it is occupied most of the time by young people from the Canonniers sports-study baseball program, the one where Édouard Julien was trained.
The director of the Canonniers baseball program, Jean-Philippe Roy, recalled that “300 students come here every day.” “We are going to celebrate our 25the next year. In 23 years of existence, it is 100% graduation. That’s not nothing. »
The announcement comes in a busy week for sport in Quebec. The City announced Tuesday the start of work on its very first Bleu Blanc Bouge refrigerated skating rink, in partnership with the Canadiens Children’s Foundation. It will be located a stone’s throw from Canac stadium, in Victoria Park.
