There will most likely be little or no fanfare tonight at the Buffalo Bisons game, when the Ottawa Lynx will make their final ever appearance at Dunn Tire Park. The Canadian and US anthems will be performed together at the ballpark for the last time, and next year this franchise will debut in the International League as the “Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs” in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Hard to believe that this team drew almost 600,000 fans back in 1995 enroute to it’s first and only Governors Cup Coupe Gouverneur. Since then it’s been nothing but downhill for this franchise. Fans have stayed away in droves, the city has sold off parking lots around Lynx Stadium for non-ballpark development, leaving only 650 spaces near the venue, and despite a myriad of attempts to spark interest and attendance, efforts there have gone for naught.

I spoke with IL President Randy Mobley a couple of weeks ago, and he emphatically stated that the league wanted to keep its presence in Ottawa. “We did everything we could to help the ownership group and even repeatedly met with the Mayor, but ultimately the market dictates what will happen and clearly this market just did not want this team anymore” said Mobley.

I suggested to Bisons game night coordinator Matt LaSota a while back that he might want to play Billy Joel’s “Allentown” when the Lynx takes the field for the final time at Dunn Tire Park. Matt thought it was a cool suggestion but has probably since forgotten the conversation. Nonetheless, I will be quietly humming the tune tonight, yet somewhat saddened that the international footprint of the International League will be no more.

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