The Toronto Blue Jays could return to Rogers Centre as early as this month
The Toronto Blue Jays could soon be making their way back home to the Rogers Centre as early as July 30.
The team has submitted an application to the federal government that would see them return to their hometown to play out the rest of the 2021 season, a spokesperson for the Blue Jays told CTV News Toronto on Monday.
“The club has received municipal and provincial support on a return to Toronto this summer, and [has] submitted an application to the federal government for approval,” the spokesperson said.
“That is the final hurdle for us to come home.”
According to Blue Jays front office, the move could come as soon as this month.
“July 30 … is a date we are hopeful for,” the office said.
Attendance policies and restrictions would be governed by Ontario’s Return-To-Play Framework, as part of the province’s reopening plan.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been displaced from the team’s home field since the pandemic began last March. The Jays had been playing home games at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., before moving north to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field in June.
On July 30, the Blue Jays are set to begin a 10-game homestand, but have yet to announce a venue for the games against Kansas, Cleveland and Boston.
According to data released on June 25 by the MLB and the players union, 23 of the 30 big-league teams have reached the 85 per cent threshold for full vaccination of Tier 1 individuals, which includes platers, managers, coaches, doctors, trainers and strength and conditioning staff.
At the end of June, the collective full vaccination rate for Tier 1 individuals stood at 85.4 per cent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.