Low loonie bad news for Thunder Bay Border Cats
Travel, bats and even baseballs are more expensive due to strength of U.S. dollar
The low Canadian dollar means higher costs for one of Thunder Bay's premiere sports teams.
With the loonie hovering at 70 cents as compared to the greenback, the owner of the Thunder Bay Border Cats said travel costs will increase substantially for his baseball team this year.
The Cats play 36 games in the U.S. each season and are the only Canadian team in the Northwoods league, said Brad Jorgenson.
He said the weak Canadian dollar means more expensive road trips.
"Mostly in regards to how it's transferred through our busing costs through our busing company," said Jorgenson." They have to adjust their prices when we are travelling down in the states."
Jorgenson said the Cats purchase everything for their club in American funds, so travel is not the only increased expense the team faces this year.
"We buy all kinds of things," said Jorgenson. "130 baseballs, 20 dozen bats. Uniforms. All the kind of stuff that we buy through our deal with the league."
Jorgenson said it's frustrating to face costs the team has no control over.
"If there is a certain aspect of your business that is not running properly, you take a good look at it and make adjustments and do something, " he said. "Whatever it is you have to do. In this regard, there is really nothing you can do."
Jorgenson said the players on the Border Cats are collegiate, and are not paid.
But he said coaches are salaried, and that's also done in American dollars.
Jorgenson said raising ticket prices to compensate is "not something you'd want to do. But it's always a possibility."