Transforming a ballpark on the brink of demolition into one of Edmonton’s best entertainment venues
Age: 39
Job Title: Co-owner and Operations Manager of the Edmonton Riverhawks
Ryan Gregg can pinpoint the moment he realized the Edmonton Riverhawks had become more than just an affordable activity for families in the heart of the city’s river valley. During a nail-biter in the 2024 playoffs, a bad call against the Riverhawks caused the stadium to physically shake with the roar of the crowd. In that moment, Gregg, the team’s operations manager and one of its founding owners, felt it: the community had truly embraced what he helped build, turning a fun night out into a deep connection to the team.
Gregg founded the Riverhawks in 2020 with his father, the Oiler-turned-physician Dr. Randy Gregg, and a large local ownership group, with the belief that the city deserved a premier team that was also welcoming. This community-first approach has been Gregg’s driving force from the very beginning, with affordable ticket prices, a focus on inclusivity and a fun, family-friendly environment being key philosophies for Gregg and the organization.
The team’s origins were famously hands-on, with Gregg and his wife packing merchandise in their basement after their daughter fell asleep. Today, Gregg handles everything from coordinating team travel to overseeing stadium systems.
While the sold-out Canada Day crowds and record-breaking West Coast League attendance numbers are both achievements Gregg is proud of, he’s quick to point out that the real success lies in initiatives like the team’s summer camps, which give kids who have never played the sport before a chance to pick up a bat for the first time. “That’s one of my proudest things, just expanding the game,” he says. For Gregg, the journey is about more than just the final score on the diamond — it’s about playing a small role in creating the next generation of baseball players in Edmonton.
This article appears in the November/December 2025 issue of Edify
