Indians Will Be On National TV Spokane Team Hopes For Big Crowd To Make Case For Aaa Expansion
The Spokane Indians are pleased to announce they’ll play on national television. They will be more pleased if local fans don’t stay home to watch it on TV.
“We need Spokane fans to fill the seats …, ” said Indians general manager Andy Billig. “This will make a strong statement about the strength of support for baseball in the Spokane community.
“Everyone who is important in the Triple-A expansion selection process should be watching this game.”
“This game” is Spokane’s Aug. 31 home date against the Yakima Bears. ESPN2, cable channel 59 in Spokane and 25 in Coeur d’Alene, will televise the 7:05 p.m. Northwest League contest. Steve Lyons and Matt Vasgersian are scheduled to be the announcers. The national sports network regularly telecasts minor league baseball games.
The Indians, who have filed for a Triple-A expansion team in 1998, hope the team’s first national exposure will impress the powers that be.
“This provides us with a great opportunity to showcase Spokane and how great a baseball city this is on a national level,” said Indians president Bobby Brett. “The opportunity is particularly important because of the Triple-A selection process.”
A short list of potential expansion cities will be announced in September, shortly after Spokane’s Class A short season ends.
NHL game in Spokane sold out
The first athletic event in the new Spokane Arena will play to a full house.
The Spokane Chiefs announced the Sept. 17 National Hockey League preseason game between the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks is sold out.
The Arena holds 10,000 for hockey.
“The fact the game is sold out really shows how much the people of Spokane wanted to have a National Hockey League game,” said Chiefs owner Bobby Brett.
“The Chiefs did a terrific job of getting one of the NHL’s best matchups with the Sharks and Canucks,” said Arena general manager Kevin Twohig.
The Sharks feature two former popular Chiefs, Pat Falloon and Ray Whitney, and the Canucks have Pavel Bure, brother of another popular ex-Chief, Valeri Bure.
, DataTimes