The Thunder Bay Storm, although sporting a much better club than last
year, have had a serious drop in attendance this season. The team had a
great attendance last year when the team finished in last place. Even
though attendance severly tailed off near the end of the year they still
wound up averaging 34 198 fans a game after they moved to Thunder Bay
early in the season. The capacity of MacKenzie Field is 42 501 and this
year the average has been only 14 903 in the few games they've played at
home this year. Even though the season is young, owner Jesse Gouldson is
still very worried.
"I thought that a place like Thunder Bay would appreciate a baseball
team, I guess I was wrong. It seems like it was just a fad. I'm
disappointed to tell you the truth." Gouldson stated in an interview.
"I have a few ideas of where I want to move the team. I've also heard
from some investors who want to buy the team and I'd like to say that
this team is mine and will be for a long time, even if I move I'll be
keeping the team." Gouldson also said.
It's known that Gouldson is Canadian and likes to keep his teams in
Canada as is the case with his other teams, the Saskatoon Farmers and
Halifax Whiskeyjacks. The rumour seems to be that they are going to move
to Ottawa and use 'Canada' as their hometown. If so their nickname may
be the Lumberjacks or perhaps the Canadian Bacons. Another story is that
they'll be moving to Montreal and target the French population, an area
the Royals have not been doing much. None of these rumours have been
confimed nor denied from the Storm front office, but Gouldson, known to
be impatient and able to change his mind from one second to the next,
has said he may move the team as soon as next week or even sooner if he
gets a good offer.
