The Blue Jays, coming off a trip to the World Series, are “as stable as they’ve been in a very long time,” according to Shi Davidi of SPORTSNET.ca. Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is “locked up through the next decade.” The leadership group of President & CEO Mark Shapiro, GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider is “in place for years to come” and there is “crucial organizational alignment above and below them.” The club enters the season “projecting a top-five Competitive Balance Tax payroll, spending at a level that would have been fantasy a decade ago.” Making that “sustainable is Rogers Centre, with its third renovation unveiled Wednesday, a venue now leveraged by both players and fans, capable of generating revenue at a level competitive with their prime rivals and viable for the foreseeable future.” There is a “case to be made that the franchise is on its best footing since the 1992-93 World Series years.” The Jays are heading into a year-long 50th-season celebration, coming off the club’s best year since 1993, with a roster “legitimately capable of going on another” World Series run (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/25).
CREDIT DUE: In Toronto, Gregor Chisholm wrote the Jays “can sign high-priced talent because of a high payroll, but Shapiro deserves credit for convincing Rogers Communications to open its wallet.” Before his arrival, payroll was a “frequent topic because the level of support from ownership varied from one year to the next.” This season, questions about resources “barely seem relevant.” It is “starting to become a given that the Jays are willing to be perennial taxpayers, consistently blowing past the league’s competitive balance tax thresholds to keep their championship window open.” Shapiro said, “We have a budget. … But we are also given a clear mandate from (Rogers) to make this club meaningfully better.” Chisholm wrote Shapiro has “proved quite adept at extracting resources from his bosses.” Their faith in him has been “rewarded with record television ratings and frequent sellouts.” It is the “type of foundation that should allow the Jays to consistently remain among MLB’s biggest spenders” (TORONTO STAR, 3/25).
FURTHER UPGRADES: With the biggest renovations at Rogers Centre now complete, Shapiro said that the Jays “could look at some smaller-scale upgrades, such as freshening up” the ballpark’s suites and “adding a bigger kids’ area.” SPORTSNET.ca’s Ben Nicholson-Smith noted eventually, a discussion about the ballpark’s “long-term future will be necessary, but that’s likely ‘a good 15 years’ away.” Shapiro said that “all options would have to be considered, including an even larger-scale renovation of Rogers Centre or building an entirely new” ballpark on the same site. Nicholson-Smith wrote for now, the bones of the ballpark “are holding up well, giving the Blue Jays stability for now and flexibility years down the line” (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/25).
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: In Toronto, Gilbert Ngabo noted a “multitude of banners outside the stadium as well as digital displays inside will remind fans of special memories over the years” as the Jays celebrate their 50th season. The club will unveil an outdoor statue on July 18 to “commemorate the 1992 and 1993 World Series winners.” A “special corner has been created on the 100-level concourse with a memorabilia display.” Space in the right-field concourse has been “reserved for the Hall of Excellence,” to be unveiled Aug. 29 with retired broadcaster Buck Martinez as the first inductee. A new premium club on the 200 level, the Rogers Terrace, will seat 1,050 with a patio extension. It is “sold out for this season, plus a wait-list” (TORONTO STAR, 3/25).
A DAY IN MY SHOES: In Toronto, Dan Bilicki noted the Blue Jays and owner Edward Rogers “have revealed several new initiatives” as it celebrates the team’s 50th season. One of the new programs will “put a fan in the shoes of Edward Rogers for one day every month: Rogers Game Day Owner.” Fans can “enter to win one of six exclusive Game Day Owner experiences, with one taking place each month during some fairly big matchups,” starting with April 7 against the Dodgers.
Perks include:
Behind-the-scenes access at Rogers Centre, well as a meet-and-greet with a player.On-field and dugout access during batting practice.Sitting in on manager media availability.
Rogers also announced that it will be “giving away 5,000 tickets to its customers this season, including 500 for Opening Night.” Rogers also launched the “Canada’s Winning Inning.” Quite simply, if a Blue Jays player gets a hit during the identified winning inning, Rogers customers watching the Sportsnet broadcast “will have the chance to win exclusive 50th season merchandise … by texting a designated number” (TORONTO SUN, 3/26).