The new Lions Cave opens in Kanasín

It was tried, but sometimes the will is not enough.

One cannot, nor should one, detract from the titanic effort made by all those involved in the construction work that turned an amateur field into a mini professional baseball stadium. But the “Víctor Cervera Pacheco” Stadium had a long way to go to be ready for the party that took place last night. It will go down in history, there is no doubt regarding it.

The Lions, hosts in their new headquarters, have a rich history that began seven decades ago, strengthened in recent years by the efforts of their current owners, who have been in charge of leading the jungle team to be the most dominant in the League. Mexican.

But he mightn’t show it off. The conditions of the new stage were not suitable for showing off yet. There were some pending details in various areas, which, of course, are corrected with effort and enthusiasm.

That is what will be worth highlighting today and always: the efforts to prepare the amateur house for a professional headquarters. In two and a half months, monumental work was done. It is expected that the new cave in the paradise of the panuchos can be seen in full soon.

The history of the Lions, of great stars, many memories and five championships, was projected on a screen that was activated to serve as a blackboard, as requested by the protocols of the Mexican League. The giant screen was still being installed a few meters away. It was not what was expected, but, many said, nothing is worse. Others, with disappointment, talked regarding how it was not what they expected given the cost of the tickets (440 pesos for the cheapest).

Ticket prices had a lot to do with the opening ceremony being held with the diamond area almost empty.

That space was filled to 50 percent by the time the playball was called, around 8:30 at night. The rest of the capacity, in the area called silver, seemed almost full. The portable stands installed behind the center and right wall were packed to capacity. With people watching the game, also, from the roof of their houses.

Shortcomings and needs? Many. The boxes, like the media box, were being adapted to the time of the game. The electricity came on in the followingnoon and that helped. Parking was difficult.

The pyrotechnic lights were impressive. Kanasín had not experienced a night like this, so illuminated by the fireworks and the full moon that might be seen spectacularly from above.

The people behaved up to the task. At 5:35 it was announced that the fans would enter the building and it was not until an hour later that they were able to do so. Two young fans, Roxana Calderón and Sofía Solís, were among the first to enter the silver side, among the long queue that formed from 5 o’clock.

The opening took place with a certain delay, and that is why the game also lasted just under half an hour. It was headed by the Secretary of Government, María Fritz Sierra, with the mayor of Kanasín, Hilario Uicab; the director of IDEY, Jorge Esteban Abud; the Secretary of Sports of the Mérida City Council, Jesús Aguilar y Aguilar, and the owners of the Lions, Erick and Juan José Arellano Hernández.

Regarding the show, we tried to maintain the “Kukulcán style” activations: hostesses, botargas, souvenirs. The “Güera” of the stones was seen in the “Víctor Cervera Pacheco”, as well as kiberos, polcaneros, pizzas and other snacks.

The umpires took the diamond at 8:19 and the first loud cheer was heard. The second, when the players jumped onto the diamond. César Valdez made the first official pitch at 8:23 and the “Leones… Leones” was heard, in support of the leaders of the South Zone (8-1 record) who were appearing in their third home in seven decades (Parque Carta Clara and Parque Kukulcán before).

It was baseball time.

As if the problem of the shortcomings experienced in access was forgotten and now the party began and the party was experienced in a “small Kukulcán” or a “big Cordemex”. A night of great heart.

They promised that the next series in their new cave, next Tuesday, everything will be different, complete and comfortable.— Gaspar Silveira