Blue Jays Denied Approval by Government to Play in Toronto Amid Pandemic

Less than one week before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season, the Toronto Blue Jays announced they will not play their home games at Rogers Centre.

Rob Gillies of the Associated Press first reported the Canadian federal government had denied the Blue Jays' request to host games in Toronto because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Gillies noted that the Blue Jays previously received clearance to play at the Rogers Centre from city and provincial governments, but the federal government was the final body that had to sign off before it could become official. 

Per Laura Armstrong of the Toronto Star, the Jays will use Sahlen Field, home of their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, this season. 

Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reported last week that Blue Jays officials have some concerns about Sahlen Field, including "social distancing in the clubhouses, workout rooms and batting cages, repairs needed to bullpen phones and the fact the pens are in foul territory down the lines and not behind the outfield fence."

Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca noted the Blue Jays at one point hoped to use their spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida, as an alternative if they couldn't use Toronto, but they would now "prefer to avoid" Florida because of rising coronavirus numbers. 

The schedule does give the Blue Jays additional time to navigate this situation. They will play their first five games of the regular season on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays (July 24-26) and Washington Nationals (July 27-28). 

Toronto's first home series of the season will be against the Nationals from July 29-30.