Cactus Rats to play first games in new stadium without fans

The Energy City Cactus Rats says the team will play its home opener at its new ballpark, but fans can't attend. CTV News Edmonton's Curtis Goodrum explains why.

Spruce Grove’s collegiate-level summer baseball team will play its first home game at its new stadium without fans.

The Energy City Cactus Rats announced Wednesday on social media that this weekend’s games against the Brooks Bombers at Energy City Metro Ballpark will start “with field occupancy beginning for team and player use only.” The club said it would not commit to a date when spectators can enter the facility.

“From there, the ballpark will move toward limited public seating, followed by expanded seating and additional amenities as each area is completed, approved, and ready for fans,” the Western Canada Baseball League team said.

“We are not announcing the exact first public game date today, but that announcement is coming soon.”

The ballpark has been under construction on the eastern edge of the city of 44,575 for much of the last three years. Spruce Grove is a 10-minute drive west of the Edmonton city limit.

The Cactus Rats could not be reached for comment.

The WCBL said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton that it is “monitoring the situation” and is “focused on the team meeting its obligations to the league, players and coaches.”

The club was formerly known as the Edmonton Prospects, which began play in 2005 and called Re/Max Field home from 2012-19. The club played the 2021, 2022 and 2024 seasons out of Sherwood Park and was dormant in 2023.

The Cactus Rats played the first six weeks of last season on the road and used Fort McMurray’s ballpark as their home venue for a clutch of late June games. They eventually used Spruce Grove’s Henry Singer Ball Park, a baseball complex with scant bleacher seating, for some home dates.