TORONTO — With advice from New York politicians, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the Toronto Blue Jays have announced they will play their home games in Buffalo at Sahlen Field this year.
“We are extremely grateful to have a home in Buffalo this season, thanks to the openness, creativity, and partnership of the Buffalo Bisons, Major League Baseball, and Blue Jays staff, who have worked tirelessly to prepare us for games at Sahlen Field,” said Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro in a statement. “This process has no doubt tested our team’s resilience, but our players and staff refuse to make excuses — we are determined to take the field on Opening Day today, and for the coming months, with the same intensity and competitiveness that our fans expect.”
The Blue Jays were looking for a major league park after the Canadian Government declined to allow them to play in Toronto, and the state of Pennsylvania nixed a deal to play in Pittsburgh because of frequent travel throughout the United States.
The Blue Jays are scheduled to play their first home game July 29 against the defending champion Washington Nationals.
Cuomo discussed the issue Friday morning in a telephone call with Baseball Commisioner Rob Manrfred.
“MLB raising concerns too. We believe that MLB can play on a fanless basis. We had the Yankees and Mets do their camp here.”
Cuomo said giving people sports to watch on television is a good thing, especially during the pandemic.
“If we can get Toronto playing here, that would be great. That would be great for Buffalo,” Cuomo said.
Blue Jays To Stage Majority Of 2020 Home Games In Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/BxlV7cgieJ
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 24, 2020
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