Blue Jays/Phillies series could move to Philly
Not even a couple of weeks after I had finally figured out that Roy Halladay might be starting in one of the games in Toronto this coming June, now it turns out that series might not be in Toronto after all.
The Fightins reported earlier today that there were rumblings the June 25th-27th series originally scheduled to take place in Toronto could be shifted to Philadelphia due to the G20 Summit.
Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki also wrote on the possibility of the change in venue. He spoke with Katy Feeney, MLB’s Senior VP of Scheduling and Club Relations and basically she could not confirm or deny whether the series will be in Philadelphia or Toronto.
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Things are still up in the air at this point, but I find it hard to believe that the G20 Summit might be wreaking so much havoc with the Blue Jays schedule that it would cause them to move baseball games to an entirely different city.
There is still a possibility either the Friday June 25th or Sunday June 27th game could be canceled, which would lead the way for a day/night double-header to be played on Saturday June 26th.
Stay tuned for updates as they become available.
Well thats just great… I submitted by passport application today… the plan is to go to toronto on june 25th… catch the night game, spend the night, then catch the halladay game…
fml
While you'd may think that the G20 isn't enough to that much havoc, it most definitely is. I worked the Economic Summit in 88 (I guess that dates me!) and with demonstrations (which are assured!), road closures and police escorts for diplomatic staff, the additional security staff (and military), and other sundry items, it's gonna be nuts. Take it from me, havoc is an appropriate description.
Aquamelli, so long as you didn't buy tickets you should be good. It hasn't been confirmed yet either way, but I guess anything can happen. Always a good idea to have your passport ready anyway, even if the series does switch.
Anon, I guess there is much more work behind the scenes with the G20 than I thought. I can see why they'd rather just move it – it's probably easier than trying to cancel a game or fit in a double header.
Alternate stadiums that would give the Jays home field advantage and don't have games schedules for June 25-27:
Detroit
Buffalo (AAA)
Didn't the Astros have to move a series to avoid the Republican National Convention a few years back?
Torgen, good idea – wouldn't it be cool to see the Phillies & Tigers play at Comerica? Or even better … just play down the 401 at Labatt Park in London, Ontario?
Section 36, I vaguely remember something happening with that. It makes me wonder if this was a major oversight by the MLB in scheduling a series in Toronto when the world leaders are in town.
It seems awfully strange to change a schedule so dramatically only a month or so away from the series.
The failure here I believe isn't of MLB scheduling games during the G20, but of the Canadian government moving the G20 to Toronto the same weekend as Jays games and to pick a venue right beside the stadium to make matters worse.
The G20 was originally scheduled to be held in Muskoka north of the city, but that became impossible once the event grew from G8 to G20. The Canadian government dragged its feet though on making the move, only announcing it late last year after the 2010 MLB schedule was done I believe.
And it's not like it had to relocate to Toronto – they could have moved to another city elsewhere in Ontario. Or it need not have been right down by the Jays stadium – some suggested the relatively self-enclosed Exhibition ground or why not to Mississauga or some other suburb with convention facilities and hotels aplenty?
No, if the Jays games do get ruined – either by cancellation (though I doubt this) or just the huge pain of navigating the expected havok downtown to get to the stadium, you can blame the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, not MLB.
It's still going to happen in Toronto. No need for anyone to change their plans…
I agree, I really can't see the games not being played. This issue has been around for six months now and if anything was going to have happened, it would have been done already. Head downtown/to the stadium early as there's liable to be delays, but otherwise the show will go on I'd wager.
Jabalong, my bad – I assumed that the G20 Summit was scheduled to be in Toronto years in advance of the MLB schedule. It's very strange of them to move the venue from Muskoka to Toronto – now the Blue Jays have to scramble to figure out what to do. I have no problem blaming Harper for this one.
Mattt, my instincts tell me the series will stay in Toronto, but you never know. It seems very late to be changing the schedule all of a sudden.
well… its official now… series is going to Philly
http://bit.ly/a1YXTt
That. Just. Sucks.
Does this mean we only get 78 home games? Conspiracy to destroy baseball in Toronto(rumour started here…)
Sorry guys, looks like it's O-Phil-cial. Check for an update above on the story. Not sure what the Blue Jays are planning to do, as it robs season ticket holders of three less home games. I wonder what they'll do to compensate?
Well, so much for my thinking this wouldn't happen – I'm really surprised and disappointed. Just let loose a big rant on this over at Bluebird Banter (link below), so I'm all ranted out.
http://www.bluejayhunter.com/2010/05/blue-jaysphillies-series-could-move-to.html
Oops, here's the right link:
http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2010/5/11/1467568/jays-phillies-series-moved-to
Jabalong, I share in your frustration and disappointment, but trust that Beeston and company wouldn't have made this decision unless they truly thought it was going to be a huge issue.
I for one was planning on going to the series, and by the sounds of things, security would have been a huge issue. Coming from out of town, I can only imagine how long this could have delayed things.