WCBL permits Cactus Rats to play in Energy City Metro Ballpark

Spruce Grove's Energy City Cactus Rats have been cleared by the WCBL to play at their new ballpark this summer, starting with a game Wednesday night.

Spruce Grove’s Energy City Cactus Rats are allowed to play the remainder of their home games for the 2026 season at Metro Ballpark, the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) has decided.

The board of governors voted unanimously in favour of the decision, according to a statement posted late Tuesday evening following a meeting with the club about its facility still under construction.

“We have seen the progress made by the Cactus Rats organization over the last number of days with fulfilling facility and league obligations, as well as the presentation of a plan to carry out the ballpark project to completion,” WCBL president Kevin Kvame said in the statement.

“For the good of the league, we feel it is important to give the Cactus Rats organization enough runway to do that.”

Metro Ballpark will host the Okotoks Dawgs for its first game Wednesday evening.

However, fans are not allowed to attend.

The facility’s occupancy is currently limited to 150 people, consisting of team and support staff.

The City of Spruce Grove says this is necessary to prevent visitors from roaming into unsafe areas and maintain fire services access in the event of an emergency.

Portable toilets were installed to help with these goals.

Teams can only access the field and dugouts.

The game will be livestreamed on FloCollege.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Angela Amato and Evan Kenny