Ever thought about how it feels to make all the arrangements for an important series, only to find out about a massive reduction in attendance at the stadium? That’s exactly the case with MLB, as the Canadian fans, who once used to attend the only non-Toronto MLB games, have been skipping their Seattle road trip this year. The reason is the ongoing tension between the United States and Canada, due to which the major series has dealt a severe blow.
While this time every year, we used to see Canadian fans in huge numbers visiting the T-Mobile Park to witness the much-anticipated Toronto Blue Jays–Seattle Mariners game, things look quite different this year. Kingsley Bailey, manager of the Vancouver Ticket, shedding light on this matter, said, “We usually get a lot of people asking, ‘What the chance of getting tickets?’ Now we have people asking, ‘What’s the chance of selling tickets?”
And it’s true—ninety percent of the fans were from Canada, who used to flock in to watch the Mariners face the Blue Jays. But now, the US-Canada tensions have cast a shadow of doubt not only on the attendance numbers but also on the MLB’s finances. The majority of Blue Jays fans chose not to travel to Seattle, though some are still doing so since President Donald Trump took office. And it’s quite visible from the attendance numbers, which have gone down to 31,564 during the Friday night’s series opener, which was approximately 35,880 in last year’s game.
John Schneider, manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, understanding the current scenario, said, “Not quite as full as it has been in the past, and understandably so.” Even sections of the stadium that used to be jam-packed during the batting practice recorded fewer numbers of audiences in blue jerseys. Going by the emotions of fans, they feel it is not right to be at the T-Mobile Park. The reasons are plenty, though!
A majority of Canadian people expressed their dissatisfaction with America’s administration of new policies, especially jeering ahead of the US national anthem during the game and people using money to get their voices heard. President Trump’s annexation threats and tariffs have also created a negative mindset among the people, forcing them to boycott their annual trip as well. Many of them are unwilling to support the economy either, after Trump’s statements towards Canada.
However, not to forget that the Seattle series holds a special place in the hearts of Canadians. It is the only Toronto game that Canadians can attend. That’s the reason why, despite having conflicting thoughts, many haven’t hesitated to purchase the tickets. After all, they are the fans of sports first, aren’t they?
Will this year’s Blue Jays-Seattle Mariners series be successful just like before?
Well, that’s a tough question to answer at the moment, given the dip in numbers of attendance of the fans. The MLB series used to draw a huge amount of crowd from Canada, especially from the Alberta and British Columbia regions. However, in the wake of political tensions, the streets are empty; restaurants are not crowded by fans who used to visit in large numbers. While Friday’s game attendance was low, it further dipped to 31,182 on Saturday.
However, even with the reduction in numbers, people are still coming in good numbers. They are avid sports fans and love their team, so they wish to support their team, no matter what. The Canadian fans represent their team, which represents the country. So, it all comes down to what they want. But yes, it cannot be denied that they still have a lot of emotions left, as many were seen catching a glimpse of the players during the batting practice.
With the Seattle series being the only opportunity that comes every year for the Blue Jays fans to see their team live, hopefully, the Toronto Blue Jays do their best to bring smiles to the faces of their supporters, too. Another piece of good news is that after months of escalating tensions, the “Open Arms for Canada” initiative can bridge the gap and align with the series perfectly at this time.
Would you have liked to pay a visit amid the rising tensions between the US and Canada?
The post US Canada Tensions Hit MLB’s Finances as Major Series Sees Massive Dip in Numbers From Fans in Attendance appeared first on EssentiallySports.
