The Expedition League made the announcement today that the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks will be relocated to Grand Forks, North Dakota for the 2021 summer baseball season.
This temporary move is necessary due to the continued border closure between Canada and the United States and the restrictions on attendance at sporting events in Manitoba. The Whiskey Jacks, who were unable to play in Brandon last season due to the border closure and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will be back in action with a full 64-game schedule as they call North Dakota home this season.
“We’re disappointed that due to the continued uncertainty regarding the border closure, and possible limits on capacity at sporting events in Manitoba, we were forced to make a very difficult decision”, said Steve Wagner, Expedition League President and Whiskey Jacks owner. “We’re committed to the City and the great fans in Brandon and Westman and we have some amazing things planned for the 2022 season. We can’t wait to be back in Brandon with Whiskey Jacks baseball and FUN in 2022”, he added.
Ray Walker, Whiskey Jacks GM stated, “We’ve worked really hard to put together a great Whiskey Jacks club to play in 2021. I’m sad I won’t be at Andrews Field all summer, but so happy we can show our brand of baseball to the fans in Grand Forks. I can’t wait until 2022!”
The Whiskey Jacks will move from Andrews Field in Brandon to call Kraft Field home this summer. The relocation to Grand Forks is a temporary one, as that North Dakota city is the newest expansion site for the Expedition League in 2022.
The Expedition League begins play on May 25, 2021, with a full slate of 12 teams, including two new expansion teams – the Mining City Tommyknockers in Butte, MT and the Canyon County Spuds in Caldwell, ID.
The Expedition League’s 2021 All-Star Extravaganza will be July 19-20 at Mike Lansing Field in Casper, WY, home of the Casper Horseheads.
There’s more information on the Whiskey Jacks at the link below.
