Budget 2025: Victoria’s Royal Athletic Park slated for infrastructure improvements

The field at Royal Athletic Park, home of the Victoria HarbourCats, on April 18, 2022.. (CTV News)

The city-owned ballpark that’s home to the Victoria Harbourcats has scored a promise for investment in the proposed federal budget, after years of rooting for an upgrade.

“We were surprised, but we were pleasantly surprised to see that mentioned,” says Harbourcats managing partner, Jim Swanson.

“I mean the lights are 40-some years old. The seating could use a refurbishment. The washrooms look like they’re from the Miami-vice era.”

The commitment is tucked inside the 405-page budget tabled Tuesday—in a section announcing projects that are meant to help build strong communities with improved local infrastructure.

“This is a very ‘wait and see’ kind of budget,” says UVic political scientist, Michael Prince. “Until Canada signs a trade deal with the U.S. that’s one of the big things overhanging all of this in terms of the uncertainty and therefore difficulty or challenge predicting or forecasting what the economy will perform like.”

For years, Victoria’s mayor says there have been discussions to make accessibility and spectator experience upgrades to Royal Athletic Park.

“I’m super excited,” says Marianne Alto.

“I’m very keen on the notion that opportunities to participate in observed sports are community building at heart.”

She says the city is unaware of the details on the project—which include how much money it could get, when, and if there are conditions to receiving that support.

“I don’t know exactly why they picked that one,” says Alto.

She says the city has also requested $25 million in federal support to help Victoria replace the aging Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre.

“We’ve been given no indication that they’re not still considering that. And so, I’m still very hopeful about that too. I don’t think this is an ‘instead of;’ I think this is an addition—and frankly that’s really thrilling,” she adds.

The proposed budget also includes $81.8 billion in defense spending over five years.

“That could be very important for Vancouver Island, certainly Esquimalt… the naval base here and up in Courtenay/Comox area with the air force,” says Prince.

The listed budgetary priorities include new military capabilities and new money for military recruitment and retention challenges.