The Toronto Blue Jays have actually been denied approval by the Canadian federal government to play in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced in a statement Saturday that the federal government had actually rejected the request.
” Unlike preseason training, regular-season games would require repeated cross-border travel of Blue Jays gamers and staff, as well as challenger groups into and out of Canada,” Mendicino stated. “Of specific issue, the Toronto Blue Jays would be needed to play in areas where the threat of virus transmission stays high.
” Based on the best-available public health suggestions, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular-season play would not effectively protect Canadians health and wellness. As a result, Canada will not be issuing a National Interest Exemption for the MLBs regular season at this time.”.
Migration Minister Marco Mendicino stated the Blue Jays would not be able to play in Canada because “repeated cross-border travel” by both the team and its opponents would “not effectively protect Canadians health and safety.” Tom Szczerbowski/Getty ImagesThe team, which was notified of the decision via a phone call and had previously been given clearance by city and provincial governments to play at Rogers Centre, issued a declaration saying it “completely respects” the choice.
” The safety of the broader community– our fans– and the team stayed the priority of everybody included, and with that, the club totally appreciates the federal governments decision,” Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro said in a statement. “Though our team will not be playing house video games at Rogers Centre this summer, our players will take the field for the 2020 season with the very same pride and passion agent of an entire nation. We can not wait up until the day comes that we can play in front of our fans again on Canadian soil.”.
Mendicino stated the federal government is “open up to considering future reboot strategies for the postseason ought to the threat of virus transmission diminish.”.
Heaven Jays stated they are settling strategies for an alternative site for regular-season home video games– possibilities include their training center in Dunedin, Florida, or the home of their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, New York. Both sites, however, present issues.
Florida is among the states hardest hit by the coronavirus, and gamers have stated they preferred to play in Toronto.
A source informed ESPNs Buster Olney that a person of the main interest in Buffalo is the quality of the ballpark lights– which are considered even worse than MLB standard.
MLB required an exemption to a requirement that anyone entering Canada for inessential factors should self-isolate for 14 days. The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to unnecessary travel until at least Aug. 21.
COVID-19 cases are rising in the United States, while Canada has actually flattened the epidemic curve.
The NHL has actually received an exemption for its restart to the season, however that was a far simpler case because the games are restricted to 2 hubs– Edmonton and Toronto.
Heaven Jays are scheduled to begin the season July 24 at Tampa Bay. Their house opener was set for five days later versus Washington.
Heaven Jays received an exemption for summer camp, throughout which the players accepted isolate in the hotel connected to Rogers Centre and develop a quarantine environment. Players are not allowed to leave the arena or hotel and violators deal with fines of approximately $750,000 Canadian ($ 551,000 U.S.) and as much as 6 months in jail.
Prior to Saturdays statement, there had actually been discussions in between the Blue Jays and gamers about the team paying off apartment leases, housing gamers at the Rogers Centre Marriott and giving challenge pay of $20,000 or more, sources told ESPNs Jeff Passan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
