covid-19 keeps jays from coming home
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travel concerns due to covid-19 has made it difficult for the toronto blue jays to find a home stadium for the 2020 season.
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- most home games will be played out of minor league affiliate’s sahlen field in buffalo, ny
- jays were denied use of pnc park in pittsburgh and rogers centre in toronto due to travel concerns
- other sports leagues dodge travel restrictions with “sports bubbles” and testing and safety protocols
after weeks of uncertainty, the toronto blue jays will be playing this mlb season at a home away from home at sahlen field in downtown buffalo.
the jays cinched the deal with the minor league stadium after the state of pennsylvania denied their request to use pnc park in pittsburgh. a significant increase in the number of covid-19 cases in southwestern pennsylvania had health officials concerned about the frequent travel required to play major league games
the jays initially received approval from the local and provincial governments to play out of the rogers centre in toronto, according to mlb.com. the canadian government later blocked this setup due to the risk associated with hosting visiting teams from the us.
pittsburgh’s baseball team, the pirates, had offered to share pnc park with the jays for the season. this arrangement, however, required state approval before moving forward.
“in recent weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of covid-19 cases in southwestern pennsylvania,” dr. rachel levine, the state’s secretary of health, told the associated press. “to add travellers to this region for any reason, including for professional sports events, risks residents, visitors and members of both teams.”
the jays’ first home game is scheduled for july 29, which will be played in washington with jays as the home team, the cbc reports. an announcement by the jays this afternoon confirms that the majority of their home games will be played at sahlen field in buffalo, ny.
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“of course it is difficult because there are still uncertainties,” pitcher hyun-jin ryu told the associated press through a translator. “we just have to remember that we’re going to grind for two months instead of a regular 162-game season. if we can rally together and work as a team, i think we should get by fine.”
sports leagues are looking to isolate
major league baseball isn’t the only series where teams are forced to find a new home amid travel restrictions.
the nba has developed a bubble at the espn wide world of sports complex in disney world, orlando, according to cbs sports. here, players, coaches, and support personnel for 22 teams – including the toronto raptors — are sequestered while they play out a shortened season. fans will not be allowed to attend games at the black lives matter court in orlando, instead, they’ll have to tune in from home.
to enter the bubble, mlb personnel must test negative for covid-19 before travelling to orlando. upon arrival in disney world, they are required to quarantine for 48 hours and must register two negative tests. face masks and social distancing protocols are required in all common areas (except for players during practices and games), and everyone is again tested for covid each night.
for the players, the stakes are high to stay away from anyone who might pass on the virus. fc dallas was pulled from the major league soccer tournament, hosted in a different bubble on the espn sports complex, after nine players and one coach tested positive upon arrival in orlando.
despite the risks, players have mixed feelings about the sports campus ahead of the first league game on july 30.
“it has that aau feeling,” lebron james told the washington post, referring to the heady decades-old days of travel tournaments. “that’s a great feeling. it’s all about the joy of the game and the love for the game.”
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other players are not so excited. “we’re about to be in luxury jail for three months,” tobias harris of the philadelphia 76ers previously said in a youtube video recorded by his teammate, matisse thybulle.
other sports leagues are creating bubbles elsewhere. teams from the women’s national basketball league have created a bubble in bradenton, fla., with games scheduled to take place at the img academy, according to cbc. canada will play host to the nhl with two bubbles — edmonton for the western conference and toronto for the east.
the government of canada continues to maintain a global travel advisory amidst the pandemic. any travellers entering canada must self-isolate for 14 days, and immediately report any symptoms to a health care professional or provincial public health authority.
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