Victoria is about to become the centre of the West Coast's summer baseball world – not once, but twice.
The Victoria HarbourCats will host the West Coast League (WCL) All-Star Game in both 2026 and 2027, bringing the league’s top collegiate talent to Royal Athletic Park for back-to-back showcases.
The first is scheduled for July 15, 2026, with the 2027 edition set for July 14. It’s a double-header of marquee summer events that managing partner Jim Swanson says means more than just good baseball for the Capital Region.
“This isn’t just big for us, it’s big for the city,” Swanson said at Thursday’s press conference. “Many of the southern teams don’t come up here during the regular season, and I know people around the league are excited to visit our city.”
This will be the HarbourCats’ second time hosting the WCL mid-season classic. The first was in 2013, when 4,210 fans packed Royal Athletic Park for a then-new format that has since become the norm.
The 2026 game will mark the 15th All-Star Game in WCL history. Aside from the 2013 event in Victoria and next year’s game, every edition has been played south of the border.
The All-Star Game wasn’t held in 2005, the league’s inaugural season, or from 2020-23 due to COVID-19. It was also skipped in 2014. That makes next summer’s game – and especially Victoria’s pair of showcases – an even bigger spotlight for the 17-team league, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary season.
Traditionally, the host club’s coaching staff leads the All-Star squad. HarbourCats head coach Todd Haney is expected to guide the North team in both games.
While details are still coming together, the festivities promise more than just baseball, including a “next-level home-run derby.”
Swanson said the HarbourCats are already looking beyond 2026, aiming to refine the fan experience in 2027.
“We’re aiming big for 2026, but also planning to learn from it and make 2027 even better,” he said. “Our general manager, Christian Stewart, visited Bellingham this week to see how they ran things during their chance at hosting the game. We're looking forward to working on this as a collective group."
Bellingham, the host for this year’s and the 2024 game, kicked off a two-year rotation, which Victoria will now join.
Harbourcats co-owner John Wilson said the benefits of this spotlight extend beyond the game.
“The business of sports is more than nine innings,” Wilson said. “Sports bring significant economic impact, and we expect these events to generate substantial tourism dollars for Victoria.”
The HarbourCats had five players in the 2025 All-Star Game on Wednesday in Bellingham – pitcher Tommy Bridges and infielders Logan Shepherd, Tanner Beltowski, Jack Johnson, and JC Allen helped lead the North to a 5-3 win over the South.
Victoria currently sits at 22-16, good for second in the North Division, with a league-best 10-2 record in the second half.
Now, the HarbourCats are set to take centre stage – not just as contributors, but as hosts.
