Jays announce fan vaccination mandate
Toronto Blue Jays fans hoping to give the team a late-season boost will need to have a double-shot to do so.
With an eye in part to increasing capacity at the Rogers Centre, the Jays are announcing Monday that proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result will be required from fans hoping to attend the final 12 games of the season.
Looking to create a safer experience for spectators — while also urging the government to bump the current limit of fans at the dome from 15,000 — the new measures will come into effect for the final two homestands of the season. The measures will also apply to team and stadium staff.
“I would hope that we’re able to increase capacity as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Anuk Karunaratne, the Jays’ vice-president of business operations said. “That’s going to ultimately get determined by public health boards provincially and municipally. My hope is that it would be sooner rather than later.
“This is a necessary step. It’s a pathway to getting to full capacity.”
The new policy will be in place Sept. 13 when the Jays open a series against their American League East rival Tampa Bay Rays. The team has yet to put tickets on sale for the final 12 games, pending Monday’s announcement.
With the move, the Jays align themselves with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which this past week announced similar plans for its venues. In other words: If you’re a sports fan in Toronto, you’re going to need to be vaccinated or have a negative test to watch your team.
Karunaratne said the Jays have consulted MLSE and other professional sports teams in the province, both from a safety and business perspective.
“Hopefully we all benefit,” Karunaratne said. “We’re trying to do what we feel is the responsible thing to create an environment where we continue to move forward, but it’s also sending a message that it’s a step in the right direction.
“We all view it as a necessary step to have live events at full capacity in the near term.”
Of course, there are potential added benefits for the Jays, a team that has struggled on the field lately but could use an enhanced homefield advantage should they fight their way into a playoff race.
“There’s the benefit of creating a playoff atmosphere, a competitive September baseball atmosphere, and with that there’s some financial upside,” Karunaratne acknowledged. “But given the number of games remaining, that was not at all a driver of this decision. It was really, ‘do we feel this is the right thing to do?’
“Any form of increased capacity is going to be beneficial. If we are in the playoff hunt and ultimately in the playoffs, I think being able to play here in front of more than 15,000 would be ideal.”
The Jays are well aware that the measure won’t be universally embraced by fans, but are confident the majority will approve. They have already experienced some reluctance from fans regarding non-distanced sections at the Rogers Centre.
“I think we will have the full spectrum of reaction as we have had on most of the topics related to how the pandemic is being managed,” Karunaratne said. “In the end, we’ve got to do what we feel is the right thing. We have heard from fans. We’ve talked to other organizations. We’ve talked to public health experts and everyone is trying to do their best.
“I think there is going to be more people who think this is the right thing to do. This is our pathway to help get to the next stage of recovery faster.”
The change in policy also will create some logistical challenges for fans entering the stadium, but Karunaratne said Jays staff has already had to deal with similar proof of vax measures for fans when games were played in Buffalo earlier in the season.
Fans will be required to show proof of vaccination — either digitally or in paper — and proof of ID.
As for hopes for increased capacity, the team feels it would need government approval a week in advance of Sept. 13 to open the 500 level at the dome.
“It’s really more looking forward to how do we operate with more fans eventually and less restrictions,” Karunaratne said.
“The path to getting there is not just opening the doors with the trends going the way they are case wise.”