Baseball fans hoping for some live action in London this summer have reason to be optimistic.
The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) has announced its 2021 season will kick off on June 3, with the London Majors slated to play their home opener at Labatt Park the following day.
According to the league, each team will play a 36-game regular season. The bulk of the games, 70 per cent, will be played on weekends. London, Brantford, Kitchener, and Guelph are all scheduled to host games on Canada Day.
"We are hopeful that the IBL has baseball in 2021 and we are releasing a modified schedule based on a June 1 start date” said IBL Commissioner John Kastner. “This is of course tentative and based on a myriad of factors outside of our control including vaccine availability, mass immunization rollout and most importantly restrictions and allowances based on the province’s emergency orders.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Intercounty Baseball League's 2020 season last summer. The London Majors played a single exhibition game against the Guelph Royals in August in order to preserve Labatt Park's world’s oldest continuously used ballpark designation. But due to COVID-19 related public health restrictions, no spectators were allowed in the park to watch the game. Instead it was broadcast on the Majors’ YouTube channel.
If it goes ahead, the 2021 season will be the league's 102nd.
The Major's home opener at Labatt Park on June 4 will see the team take on the Maple Leafs. Ticket information for all of the games will be released at a later date.
To see the full IBL 2021 regular season schedule click here.
The Majors are excited to announce the 2021 schedule. The season kicks off on June 4 vs the @IBLMapleLeafs. The regular season will end on Aug 22nd vs the @IBLBaycats. This year includes a July 1st vs the Maple Leafs. Ticket info will be released at a later date.#Majors #Ldnont pic.twitter.com/T6ORYWTwIV
— London Majors (@londonmajors) February 17, 2021