A rendering of the view of the baseball diamond from the upper deck of a double-decker bus where fans can soon watch the Victoria HarbourCats starting this upcoming season. (Courtesy Victoria HarbourCats)

A uniquely Victorian sports experience is pulling into town.

Fans will soon be watching baseball from the upper deck of an open-top double-decker bus better known as the Hop-On Hop-Off CitySights tour buses often seen driving tourists through Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

“It will be a fantastic vantage point from up there, you will be looking over top of the field… Others in the crowd are going to look up there and be jealous that they are not on top of the bus,” said HarbourCats General Manager Jim Swanson. “To be able have that little bit of a height vertical overtop of the field, will give a little bit of a different perspective.”

The baseball team announced a new five-year branding agreement with the Wilson’s Group of companies to rename the home of the baseball team the Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park and bring new branding opportunities and fan experiences including the double-decker bus. The Wilson’s Group of Companies includes Wilson’s Transportation, YYJ Airport Shuttle, the Gray Line’s Hop-on Hop-Off sightseeing tours among others.

“Without the sponsorships and the support that we get… ticket prices would have to go up. The corporations allow us to keep ticket prices affordable,” Swanson said.

The bus will fit 25 to 50 people, be a “VIP experience,” and include a patio area around the bus. The vehicle will be decommissioned from the touring fleet and and renovated to accommodate it’s new duties at the stadium.

“To be able to put something so very Victoria, in a Victoria ball park to us just seems like a natural,” Swanson said.



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