Calgary isn’t exactly synonymous with baseball. Hockey usually takes centre stage, with the Flames and Wranglers dominating the sports conversation. The diamond takes a backseat to the rink, hiding a gem just 20 minutes outside the city.
But take a quick cruise down Macleod Trail (or Deerfoot, depending on how you plan your route) and you’ll find a haven for baseball still thriving here in the prairies — oldhead Cannons fans, this one’s for you!
The Okotoks Dawgs play in the Western Canadian Baseball League, a collegiate summer league, along with 11 other teams from Alberta and Saskatchewan. They have won three straight titles, highlighted by a walk-off championship victory last summer courtesy of hometown hero and infielder Connor Crowson.
They have a rabid, loyal fanbase that make Seaman Stadium a must-visit for any die-hard baseball fan, folks looking for fun summer nights out with the family, or anyone who just wants a cold beer with a killer view. In other words, everyone.
“This place is special,” says Lou Pote, head coach of the Dawgs and former World Series champion with the Los Angeles Angels. “The fans, the support they give us, the community support we get. There’s probably no other place in Canada like it.”
The Dawgs started as a youth travel team in 1995, modelling themselves after top U.S. programs. They found so much success that every single member of the original squad wound up with a college scholarship.
Now, the Dawgs Academy trains some of Canada’s best young ball players, helping over 250 athletes earn spots on college rosters and 26 get themselves drafted to the MLB. They travel across the west of Canada and the U.S., playing more than 60 games a season.
And as for the diamond, it ain’t half bad. In fact, it was named the best summer-collegiate diamond by Ballpark Digest in 2023. It packs in over 4,700 fans a night during the summer, playing home to a top-ranked team that is full of hometown talent. The Dawgs roster includes 17 Canadians, including nine Albertans. Five were born in Okotoks or Calgary.
“It’s their big leagues, right?” says Pote. “Playing in a packed house, having little kids looking up to them, wanting their autographs … They went through that experience when they were younger, and now they’re in it.”
The Dawgs have won the most championships in WCBL history, with eight dating back to 2004. They’ve threepeated twice, first from 2007 to 2009, and are back-to-back-to-back champs heading into their 2025 season. But of course, they’re not satisfied.
“That’s the expectation here. We win, and we want to reload. We owe it to the fans to put a great product on the field,” says Pote.
The Dawgs know how to build a roster, recruiting and developing top talent to play in front of the Okotoks crowd. But the fanbase, the people who come to Seaman Stadium every night, are just as important.
“Our job is to give the best experience to the fans,” says Valentine Helldobler, assistant general manager of the Dawgs. “Our goal is to have people show up with a smile on their face and leave with a smile on their face.”
Cheap tickets, cheaper beer, affordable ballpark food and over 25 promo nights mean just about anyone can find their way to Seaman Stadium and have a blast. Whether it’s Christmas in July or fan appreciation night, there’s always something going on. And children 10 and under get in for free, so the whole family is invited.
“We get so much community support, we feel we need to put on the best entertainment for everyone,” says Helldobler. “And it’s much more than baseball; it’s like the fans are their own little family.”
The Dawgs have forged a relationship with Okotoks through community engagement. From participating in the annual holiday festival Light Up Okotoks to visiting schools and running a summer baseball camp, the southern Alberta town has formed a bond between the players and their fans.
And Okotokians love their sports. “Okotoks is just a sports town in general. You go to a Bisons playoff run, or the Oilers, people just love the competition here,” says Pote.
Bottom line? A Dawgs game makes for a cheap, fun summer night, whether you’re a baseball fan or just looking for an affordable night out.
And who knows, maybe the Dawgs will make a baseball fan of you yet.
The Okotoks Dawgs start their journey to a four-peat on May 28 against the Medicine Hat Mavericks. Grab your tickets at dawgsbaseball.ca.
