A major wrench has been thrown into the 2020 MLB season by the Canadian government, as the Toronto Blue Jays cannot play at the Rogers Centre.
One of the more interesting subplots to the 2020 MLB season involved finding a home for the Toronto Blue Jays. With the Canadian border being closed to travelers from the United States, the Blue Jays may not have been able to play in the Rogers Centre. However, when the City of Toronto, and the province of Ontario gave their permission, it seemed as though that concern was over.
Well, not so fast. The Canadian Federal Government denied the Blue Jays permission to host games in Toronto amidst the pandemic, putting an end to those plans.
TORONTO (AP) _ AP source says Blue Jays denied Canadian government approval to play games in Toronto amid pandemic.
— Rob Gillies (@rgilliescanada) July 18, 2020
With Opening Day scheduled for the 24th, this is a major issue. The Blue Jays, and Major League Baseball, need to find a suitable facility for the team in six days. Such a task may be easier said than done.
At this point, the most logical solution would be for the Blue Jays to play in Buffalo. The Buffalo Bisons are the AAA franchise for the Blue Jays, and are close enough where this would be a logical option. Dunedin, Florida has also been mentioned as an alternative, but with cases spiking in the state, that may be a last resort.
Likewise, the Blue Jays and Major League Baseball need to set up the facilities. Intake testing has to be provided at the stadium. Clubhouses will need to be disinfected, and social distancing measures put into place. There is a short amount of time left before the start of the season.
Interestingly, Sahlen Field has similar dimensions to the Rogers Centre. Sahlen Field is three feet shorted down the lines, and four feet bigger to dead center. The numbers produced in Buffalo should be relatively similar, at least based on the size of the field.
But this brings another possible issue with the 2020 season to the forefront. If cases continue to spike in areas of the country, what happens if additional bans are put into place? The major league season could come to an abrupt end if teams do not have a place to play.
The Toronto Blue Jays will be on the road for all of 2020, as they will not be able to play in the Rogers Centre. The question now becomes – where will they call home?