75 Years at Nat Bailey Stadium

Nat Bailey Stadium, or most famously “The Nat”, is home of the Vancouver Canadians and is a staple to Vancouver sports. This 2026 season, Nat Bailey Stadium is celebrating 75 years as a stadium and home of professional baseball here in Vancouver.

Throughout the years, Nat Bailey Stadium has had a number of names, originally known as Athletic Park at 5th and Hemlock Street, then Capilano Stadium in 1951 until 1978. 

In 1978 the stadium was officially renamed to Nat Bailey Stadium, which it has remained to the present. The renaming of the stadium to Nat Bailey is one of honour to a BC legend. 

But before we look at the man behind the name, it’s important to look at the history of the teams that have passed through this stadium and the legacy of baseball in Vancouver. 

The Nat has been home to a number of teams, which were a part of different professional baseball leagues. When the doors first opened in 1951, it was home to the Vancouver Capilanos. They were part of the Western International League, up until 1954. 

In 1956 it became home to the Vancouver Mounties, who were a part of the Pacific Coast League until 1969. In 1978, when they were still a part of the Pacific Coast League they changed their name to the Vancouver Canadians, which has remained the name to present day. The Canadians continued to play in the PCL until 1999. 

In 2000, they shifted to the Northwest League, where they stayed until 2019. Then in 2021 they became part of the High-A West Division. 

From 2000-2010 the Vancouver Canadians were the affiliate team to the Oakland Athletics. However, in 2011 they became the affiliate team to the Toronto Blue Jays. There are a number of current Blue Jays players that have graced the Nat Bailey field over the years. But the man behind the name might be the most important person to have graced Nat Bailey Stadium. 

Nat Bailey or Nathaniel Ryal Bailey was an incredibly important figure within the sports world in Vancouver. He was born in Minnesota in 1902, but moved to Vancouver with his family when he was 9 years old, and would remain in the city until his death in 1978. 

Bailey got his start selling peanuts and popcorn at different sporting events throughout Vancouver. Eventually he would open a concession at Denman Arena which was the largest indoor arena at the time. His concession became so popular that he was able to hire dozens of young men over the years to help sell concession goods. 

During the summer he would work at Athletic Park selling peanuts. He gained a reputation for being able to name players off as he tossed peanuts to those in the stands. He would also lovingly be named “Mr. Baseball” because he kept baseball alive in Vancouver. 

In 1928 he opened Canada’s first drive-in restaurant; “The Whitespot”. It became so popular that it remained throughout the crash of the 1930’s and was able to be turned into a chain over the years, and is still loved to this day. 

From 1950 until his death in 1978, Bailey sponsored and supported multiple sports teams in Vancouver. He owned a junior hockey team and sat on the Board of Directors for the original Vancouver Canucks, even saving the team when they were on the verge of bankruptcy. 

When he passed in 1978, Capilano Stadium renamed the field after him forever cementing Nat Bailey as a key figure in the world of baseball here in Vancouver. 

Nat Bailey’s impact on the sports world within Vancouver was so prominent that he was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He left a mark on the world of baseball in Vancouver and The Nat continues to honour him and his legacy to this day.