The Toronto Blue Jays won't play at Rogers Centre for the 2020 Major League Baseball season after the Canadian government denied approval to play at their home ballpark, but it appears they've found a new home.
According to Dan Connolly of The Athletic, the Blue Jays will, in fact, play in Buffalo at Sahlen Field this season, home of their Triple-A affiliate.
Breaking: Sources say the Blue Jays will be playing in Buffalo for sure this year. Not Baltimore. The wait is over.
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) July 24, 2020
Shortly after, the Blue Jays confirmed they'll play the majority of their home games in Buffalo in 2020.
Blue Jays To Stage Majority Of 2020 Home Games In Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/BxlV7cgieJ
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 24, 2020
Multiple players have expressed their displeasure with playing in a minor-league ballpark. The facility needs upgrades to lighting, the replay review system and broadcast facilities that fit MLB's standards, though the Blue Jays didn't have much of a choice with their home opener quickly approaching.
Toronto's plans to play at PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, fell through, and ideas to play at Camden Yards in Baltimore never truly materialized.
Toronto was optimistic that the Canadian government would allow it to play games at Rogers Arena this season, but with rising COVID-19 cases in the United States, Public Health Canada denied the request.
The Blue Jays will play their first home game on July 29 against the Washington Nationals after their season-opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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