Fans gear up for first Blue Jays home opener at Rogers Centre since COVID

Fans are gearing up for the first Toronto Blue Jays home opener at the Rogers Centre since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The first pitch is at 7:07 p.m. on Friday.

With the team considered to be real contenders this season, fans are extra excited for the home opener.

“They’re back, it’s so nice to have them home,” one excited fan said.

“I am looking forward to this year, I think they can do some damage,” another fan said of the team.

Rogers Centre all decked out & ready for Blue Jays home opener tonight-the first season opener at home since 2019. First pitch 7:07pm. Road closures around ballpark to begin around 5pm. GO and UP have added trains to handle crowds. Fans can ride free on 504 King streetcar line pic.twitter.com/XvOIVrpUDo

— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) April 8, 2022

Due to the pandemic, the team spent 2020 in Buffalo and then started the 2021 season in Dunedin, Fla. The team then moved to Buffalo and headed back to Toronto, where they spent the last two months of the season but missed the playoffs.

“I’m so happy for our players and for our fans,” GM Ross Atkins said. “There’s 20-plus (players) that haven’t experienced that here in Toronto. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces, to feel the energy in this stadium, and to see the excitement on fans’ faces. It’s something you can feel physically, that level of energy and intensity.”

For fans taking the TTC to the game, the transit agency is offering free rides on the 504 King streetcar route from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Fans can also take advantage of increased service on GO Transit and UP Express, which went into effect the past weekend. The improvements include “30-minute service or better” on the Lakeshore east and west train lines, as well as the last westbound UP trip of the night leaving Union Station at 11 p.m.

Road closures and restrictions

Toronto police say road closures and restrictions around the stadium will be in effect two hours before the big game, as well as for future home games, to “ensure the safe flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.”

“These restrictions will commence two hours prior to game time, and will remain in effect until the conclusion of the game,” police said in a release.

Residents who live in nearby buildings or people who work in the area will still have access during the closures but may have to show proof of address with identification or by speaking with the police officer at a traffic point.

Police said residents who live in the area of Navy Warf Court and Blue Jays Way will be able to access the area from Spadina Avenue during the closures and restrictions.

For anyone dropping off or picking fans up at the stadium, they will be directed to do so at Front Street, since vehicles won’t be able to pull over along Bremner Boulevard, Blue Jays Way and Navy Warf Court.

Blue Jays excitement at Rogers Centre

There are also changes taking place at the Rogers Centre itself to improve the fan experience.

Hundreds of new lights as well as a brand new 8,000 square foot video board, featuring two new lower wings and side ribbons that wrap around the stadium, have been installed in time for Friday’s home opener against the Texas Rangers.

The Blue Jays believe that the stadium’s new features will improve the viewing experience for spectators in the ballpark and watching on television at home.

Fans will also have their eyes drawn to the new scoreboard that looms over centre field and wraps around the upper deck of the ballpark. Mike Christiansen, the Blue Jays director of technical production, said that it’s “higher than high definition,” using a 1080p signal with better colours and resolution than the screen it replaced.

Beer drinkers will have a host of new options at Blue Jays games as well, with three new breweries in the stadium and a specialty collaboration with Mill Street Brewery called Blue Wave added to menus.

Fifty-four of Toronto’s 81 home games will feature promotion of some sort. Highlights include bobbleheads of veteran centre-fielder George Springer, all-star shortstop Bo Bichette — with real hair — and Hello Kitty.

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With files from Sportsnet