Ottawa Voyageurs
Encyclopedia
The Ottawa Voyageurs, previously the Ottawa Rapidz, were a professional baseball team based in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
under the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
or Can-Am League.
As a Can-Am team, the team played one season as the Ottawa Rapidz at Ottawa Baseball Stadium, previously home to the Ottawa Lynx
Triple-A minor league franchise. Originally, the team was to be spelled as the Ottawa Rapids until it was renamed prior to the start of their 2008 opening season. After the initial ownership declared bankruptcy, the Can-Am league assumed ownership of the franchise, but suspended the team's operations in March 2009 prior to what would have been a second season.
, an International League
team, moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania
after the 2007 season to become the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
. The Ottawa City Council
discussed different possibilities regarding the city-owned stadium and accepted the offer given by Can-Am League president Miles Wolff.
Following their sale to zip.ca
, the team name spelling was modified to the Ottawa Rapidz.
On 29 September 2008, amid reports of a $1.4 million team debt, Rapidz management notified the Can-Am league that the team would be dissolved and that bankruptcy proceedings were planned. Rapidz management blamed the City of Ottawa for the situation, citing failed negotiations for the future lease of the stadium.
Despite the first-season bankruptcy, trading of Rapidz players continued in the Can-Am League offseason, with such activity reported as late as 13 October 2008. The Can-Am League announced on 13 November 2008 that a team would operate in Ottawa for 2009, operated directly by the league while new ownership is sought. Can-Am league commissioner, Miles Wolff, confirmed this development in Ottawa, displaying the original bilingual logo, with the spelling changed back to Rapids (English)/Rapides (French), but cautioned that the name was not yet final and that the team may operate under a new name. In February 2009, the team was rechristened as the Voyageurs after a name-the-team contest won by Michael Jacobsen.
However, the Voyageurs would never take the field as the Can-Am league announced on 30 March 2009 that the team and the Atlantic City Surf
would cease operations. League commissioner Miles Wolff indicated the team lacked financial support and "solid ownership" in order for the franchise to continue.
On 3 April 2009, Voyageurs players were made available to the six remaining teams in the league in a dispersal draft.
for last place in the second half-season.
Total attendance of the 46 Rapidz home games was 101,073 for a per-game average of 2197.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
under the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, based in Durham, North Carolina, is a professional, independent baseball league located in the Northeastern United States and the Canadian province of Quebec. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is...
or Can-Am League.
As a Can-Am team, the team played one season as the Ottawa Rapidz at Ottawa Baseball Stadium, previously home to the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
Triple-A minor league franchise. Originally, the team was to be spelled as the Ottawa Rapids until it was renamed prior to the start of their 2008 opening season. After the initial ownership declared bankruptcy, the Can-Am league assumed ownership of the franchise, but suspended the team's operations in March 2009 prior to what would have been a second season.
History
The Rapids were established after the LynxOttawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
, an International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
team, moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
after the 2007 season to become the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
. The Ottawa City Council
Ottawa City Council
The Ottawa City Council is the governing body of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is composed of 23 city councillors and the mayor. The mayor is elected at large, while each of the councillors represent wards throughout the city. Council members are elected to four year terms with the...
discussed different possibilities regarding the city-owned stadium and accepted the offer given by Can-Am League president Miles Wolff.
Following their sale to zip.ca
Zip.ca
Zip.ca is an online DVD rental company operating in Canada. It has a database of over 82,000 unique titles.Zip.ca is a member of the privately held group of companies, and was owner of the Ottawa Rapidz baseball team until its first-season bankruptcy....
, the team name spelling was modified to the Ottawa Rapidz.
On 29 September 2008, amid reports of a $1.4 million team debt, Rapidz management notified the Can-Am league that the team would be dissolved and that bankruptcy proceedings were planned. Rapidz management blamed the City of Ottawa for the situation, citing failed negotiations for the future lease of the stadium.
Despite the first-season bankruptcy, trading of Rapidz players continued in the Can-Am League offseason, with such activity reported as late as 13 October 2008. The Can-Am League announced on 13 November 2008 that a team would operate in Ottawa for 2009, operated directly by the league while new ownership is sought. Can-Am league commissioner, Miles Wolff, confirmed this development in Ottawa, displaying the original bilingual logo, with the spelling changed back to Rapids (English)/Rapides (French), but cautioned that the name was not yet final and that the team may operate under a new name. In February 2009, the team was rechristened as the Voyageurs after a name-the-team contest won by Michael Jacobsen.
However, the Voyageurs would never take the field as the Can-Am league announced on 30 March 2009 that the team and the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
would cease operations. League commissioner Miles Wolff indicated the team lacked financial support and "solid ownership" in order for the franchise to continue.
On 3 April 2009, Voyageurs players were made available to the six remaining teams in the league in a dispersal draft.
2008 season (Rapidz)
The Ottawa Rapidz finished last in the Can-Am League, with a 13-34 (0.277) performance in the first half of the 2008 season, followed by an 18-29 (0.383) record in the second half. The Rapidz tied the New Jersey JackalsNew Jersey Jackals
The New Jersey Jackals are a professional baseball team based in Little Falls, New Jersey, in the United States. The Jackals are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
for last place in the second half-season.
Total attendance of the 46 Rapidz home games was 101,073 for a per-game average of 2197.