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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.