Athletic Park (Vancouver) facts for kids
Opening dedication of Athletic Park in Vancouver in 1913.
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| Location | West 6th Avenue and Hemlock Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
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| Coordinates | 49°15′58.9″N 123°08′08.2″W / 49.266361°N 123.135611°W |
| Owner | Canadian Pacific Railway 1913-1944, Emil Sick 1944-1951. |
| Operator | Bob Brown 1913-1944 on lease. |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1910 |
| Opened | April 17, 1913 |
| Renovated | 1926 and 1945 after fires |
| Tenants | |
| Baseball: Vancouver Beavers (Northwestern League) 1913-1922.
Vancouver Capilanos Western International Baseball League 1939-1950 Football: UBC Thunderbirds 1924-1930 |
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Athletic Park was a famous sports stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was mostly used for baseball games. However, many other sports and events also took place there. People came to watch soccer, football, lacrosse, bike races, and big public gatherings.
Contents
Welcome to Athletic Park!
Athletic Park was a very important place for sports in Vancouver for many years. It saw exciting games and hosted some of the biggest names in baseball history. Let's learn about how this special park came to be and what happened there.
Building a Dream Stadium
A man named Bob Brown helped create Athletic Park. He was known as Vancouver's "Mr. Baseball." Bob Brown personally cleared the land where the stadium would stand. He also oversaw the building of the entire structure, which was made completely out of wood.
Athletic Park took the place of an older stadium called Recreation Park. The new park was located near Hemlock Street and 6th Avenue. Today, a part of the Hemlock viaduct, a large bridge, runs right through where the park used to be.
The Grand Opening Day
Athletic Park officially opened its doors on April 17, 1913. The very first event was a baseball game. The Vancouver Beavers played against the Tacoma Tigers. The Beavers won the game 8–4. A huge crowd of 5,663 fans came to watch, setting a new record for attendance.
The opening day was a really big deal for the city. It started with a long parade that lasted an hour. The parade marched through the streets of Vancouver before ending at the new ball park. Tickets to see the games cost 25 or 50 cents back then.
Exciting Moments at the Park
Athletic Park was the site of many memorable events and important firsts in Canadian sports.
Football Kicks Off
In January and February of 1924, something new happened at Athletic Park. The first organized league for "Canadian Rugby-Football" in British Columbia began there. Teams like the UBC Thunderbirds, Knights of Columbus, Y.M.C.A, and King George Grads played. This league is seen as the start of organized football for both the UBC Thunderbirds and Football BC.
Playing Under the Lights
A cool new invention came to Athletic Park on July 3, 1931. This was the date of the first baseball game ever played under electric lights in Canada! The Vancouver Firemen beat the Vancouver Arrows 5-3 in the first game. Then, the Vancouver Athletic Club won 1-0 against B.C. Telephone in the second game. Both games were shorter than usual, lasting five innings each.
Baseball Legends Visit
One of the most exciting days at Athletic Park was October 19, 1934. The legendary baseball player Babe Ruth came to play! He brought his team of "American League All-Stars" with him. Other famous players like Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, and Connie Mack were also there. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for fans to see these baseball heroes.
Fires, Changes, and a New Home
Like many old wooden stadiums, Athletic Park faced some challenges over the years.
Rebuilding After Fires
Athletic Park caught fire two times. The first fire happened in 1926. The second fire was on February 28, 1945. This second fire caused a lot of damage, about $50,000 worth. Each time, the park was quickly rebuilt so games could continue.
By 1944, a man named Emil Sick owned the ball club and the park. He decided to rename the stadium Sick's Capilano Stadium.
The Park's Final Days
In 1951, Athletic Park was torn down. This was done to make way for the Hemlock viaduct, a new bridge that needed to be built. The soil from the old park was moved to a brand new stadium. This new stadium was first called Capilano Stadium (II) and later became known as Nat Bailey Stadium. So, a piece of Athletic Park lives on at Vancouver's current baseball stadium!
