The Barrie Baycats have a new stadium sponsor at their Midhurst digs and are hoping it helps the baseball team become a cut above the rest.
The sign at the newly named Vintage Throne Stadium was unveiled Thursday afternoon at what used to be called Coates Stadium.
Vintage Throne Barber Lounge owner Sabrina Di Tommaso said she met with Baycats management last year about potential sponsorship with the local baseball club and it fit what the company is all about.
“We’ve sponsored a few things around town over the last few years and we get involved in some charity events, but we knew this could be the beginning of something fun and exciting,” Di Tommaso said. “We are a family-run business and many of our families are involved with baseball, so this just worked out.”
The sponsorship deal is for four years with an opportunity to extend the agreement.
The stadium is located inside the 118-acre Barrie Community Sports Complex at Nursery Road and Highway 26.
Vintage Throne Barber Lounge has been in business for about seven years and is located in Barrie's south end at 474 Big Bay Point Rd.
Di Tomasso said the company started helping out at the Midhurst park as volunteers and when conversation about needing a new stadium sponsor came about, they jumped at it.
“We’ve never done anything like this before, so it is definitely new to us,” said Di Tommaso. “But getting involved not only with the Baycats but the kid’s camp they have is a really good thing that we are excited to do.”
Although it is located in neighbouring Springwater Township, the stadium is a City of Barrie facility which was built about 20 years ago with donations and materials supplied at cost.
The ball club, which plays in the Intercounty Baseball League, pays user fees for home games, practice and summer camps, as laid out in the facility-use agreement.
