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Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto after federal government rejects plan
The Canadian PressStaff
Contact
Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 2:35PM EDTLast Updated Saturday, July 18, 2020 7:16PM EDT
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto this season after the federal government rejected the club's plan to use Rogers Centre on Saturday.
While the government gave the green light to the Blue Jays to hold training camp at their downtown facility during the COVID-19 pandemic without the normal 14-day quarantine for those entering Canada, Ottawa said no to a request to have a similar setup for Canada's lone Major League Baseball team and visiting teams for regular-season play.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco Mendicino said holding games would be riskier than training camp.
"However, unlike pre-season training, regular-season games would require repeated cross-border travel of Blue Jays players and staff, as well as opponent teams into and out of Canada. Of particular concern, the Toronto Blue Jays would be required to play in locations where the risk of virus transmission remains high," Mendicino said in a statement.
"Based on the best-available public health advice, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular season play would not adequately protect Canadians' health and safety. As a result, Canada will not be issuing a National Interest Exemption for the MLB's regular season at this time."
Blue Jays team president and CEO Mark Shapiro said in a statement he accepted the federal government's decision.
"From the onset of discussions with league and government officials, the safety of the broader community -- our fans -- and the team remained the priority of everyone involved, and with that, the club completely respects the federal government's decision," said Shapiro.
"Though our team will not be playing home games at Rogers Centre this summer, our players will take the field for the 2020 season with the same pride and passion representative of an entire nation. We cannot wait until the day comes that we can play in front of our fans again on Canadian soil."
The Blue Jays will be the lone MLB team not to be playing in their usual home stadium during the 60-game season, which starts next week.
The club said on Saturday afternoon it was in the process of finalizing its alternate home ballpark. Before the federal government's decision the Blue Jays said their spring-training facility in Dunedin, Fla., was their most likely venue for games if they couldn't play in Toronto.
Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto after federal government rejects plan
The Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto this season after the federal government rejected the club's plan to use Rogers Centre on Saturday.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
The Canadian PressStaff
Contact
Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 2:35PM EDTLast Updated Saturday, July 18, 2020 7:16PM EDT
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays can't play home games in Toronto this season after the federal government rejected the club's plan to use Rogers Centre on Saturday.
While the government gave the green light to the Blue Jays to hold training camp at their downtown facility during the COVID-19 pandemic without the normal 14-day quarantine for those entering Canada, Ottawa said no to a request to have a similar setup for Canada's lone Major League Baseball team and visiting teams for regular-season play.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco Mendicino said holding games would be riskier than training camp.
"However, unlike pre-season training, regular-season games would require repeated cross-border travel of Blue Jays players and staff, as well as opponent teams into and out of Canada. Of particular concern, the Toronto Blue Jays would be required to play in locations where the risk of virus transmission remains high," Mendicino said in a statement.
"Based on the best-available public health advice, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular season play would not adequately protect Canadians' health and safety. As a result, Canada will not be issuing a National Interest Exemption for the MLB's regular season at this time."
Blue Jays team president and CEO Mark Shapiro said in a statement he accepted the federal government's decision.
"From the onset of discussions with league and government officials, the safety of the broader community -- our fans -- and the team remained the priority of everyone involved, and with that, the club completely respects the federal government's decision," said Shapiro.
"Though our team will not be playing home games at Rogers Centre this summer, our players will take the field for the 2020 season with the same pride and passion representative of an entire nation. We cannot wait until the day comes that we can play in front of our fans again on Canadian soil."
The Blue Jays will be the lone MLB team not to be playing in their usual home stadium during the 60-game season, which starts next week.
The club said on Saturday afternoon it was in the process of finalizing its alternate home ballpark. Before the federal government's decision the Blue Jays said their spring-training facility in Dunedin, Fla., was their most likely venue for games if they couldn't play in Toronto.
