The city Montreal, Canada, formally launched its 2015-2025 Baseball Action Plan (“Politique du Baseball – Plan d’action 2015-2025”), a long-term, C$26 million dollar baseball development project and vision.
The 10-year blockbuster policy aimed at “encouraging and promoting the practice of baseball” in Montreal was announced by Mayor Denis Coderre, wearing a Baseball Canada hat, at a press conference at Olympic Stadium in early April.
The city of 8.2 million aims to have two international-standard venues that would allow Montreal to attract international events like the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup™. The next U-18 Baseball World Cup will be held in Thunder Bay, Canada, in 2017.
Focused on increasing participation numbers and “passion” in the sport of baseball, approximately 20 concrete action-items will be rolled out by the city of Montreal, including:
- $15 million to establish and support regional baseball hubs
- $11 million to renovate existing ballparks within the next three years
Baseball Québec and Softball Québec, provincial associations of Baseball Canada and Softball Canada, collaborated on the 10-year roadmap.
Also among the announcements, Baseball Canada, the national governing body, launched “Summer’s Perfect Game” to promote baseball as the summer sport of choice for Canadians.
“Our registration numbers have experienced a steady climb recently including an 8% increase in 2015. With the success of our National Teams, a strong grassroots presence that includes programs for all, combined with the impact that the Toronto Blue Jays have in our country, baseball is alive and well in Canada,” Baseball Canada President Ray Carter said in a statement.
View the Montréal 2015-2025 Baseball Action Plan (in French).
