The Bellingham Bells officially opened their 2026 West Coast League season on Tuesday, June 3, playing their first home game at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham. The team welcomed fans with Opening Day festivities including a free commemorative pin for the first 500 attendees, kicking off what will be a 57-game summer season.
The Bells are a summer collegiate wood bat baseball team and have been a fixture of Bellingham summers for decades. Joe Martin Field, located at 1221 Potter Street in the Civic Field neighborhood of Bellingham, is one of the more beloved small-venue baseball parks in the Pacific Northwest. The stadium offers an intimate setting with views of the surrounding hills, and tickets remain among the most affordable options for live professional-grade baseball in western Washington.
The West Coast League season runs through August and features teams from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. The Bells play all summer with a roster made up of college players from across the country who compete under wood bat rules, mirroring the conditions of professional play. Alumni of the Bells have gone on to play professionally, and the team is considered one of the top summer collegiate programs in the western US.
WECU, the local credit union, is back as a sponsor for the 2026 season and is offering a notable deal for members: show a WECU debit or credit card at the gate to buy one general admission ticket and get a second one free, valid for every home game this season. Tickets must be purchased at the gate to qualify for the BOGO offer.
Bellingham Experience, the local community page that shared the Opening Day announcement, noted the return of team mascot Dinger the squirrel, who has become a fan favorite among younger attendees. The Bells' full 2026 home schedule is available at bellinghambells.com.
For residents looking to take in a summer game, Joe Martin Field is accessible by foot or bike from much of central Bellingham, and street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. Gates typically open an hour before first pitch. The Bells represent one of the more uniquely Bellingham summertime traditions, and Opening Day is a reliable signal that the PNW season has properly arrived. More on the summer activity calendar for Whatcom County is available in recent coverage of Bellingham's waterfront returning to full summer mode.
The full Bells roster and schedule, as well as group ticket and season pass information, can be found on the team's official website. The 2026 season is underway.
