BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Toronto Blue Jays announced Monday that Sahlen Field capacity will increase to 80% for games beginning June 24 through July 21.
Working with local officials, including the State Department of Health, the team is safely opening additional vaccinated seating sections in the lower bowl. Select physically distanced seating options, including accessible seating, will still be available in the upper level of the stadium. The upper level will remain as physically distanced seating pods.
Of total ballpark capacity, 95% will be fully vaccinated seating sections and 5% will be physically distanced. This involves the next 16 games.
Jays Tickets will be available to Bisons season ticket holders starting Tuesday at 10am - and to the general public this Thursday, June 10 at 10am.
The Blue Jays will be at their Buffalo home away from home facing the Orioles (June 24-27), Mariners (June 29-July 1), Rays (July 2-4), Rangers (July 16-18), and Red Sox (July 19-21).
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With the increased capacity at the ballpark, Sahlen Field is also looking to hire more workers for the games. They are hosting a hiring fair on Wednesday, June 9 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Honda Tent at Canalside (44 Prime St.).
The Jays are 3-2 in Buffalo. They start a seven game road trip in Chicago Tuesday and return to Buffalo June 15 for a three game series with the New York Yankees.
Team President Mark Shapiro hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the Blue Jays returning to Toronto this season while cautioning the decision would hinge on whether Canada relaxes border restrictions.
The Canadian border is closed to nonessential travel, and anyone allowed entry is required to isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
Shapiro last week declined to get into specifics regarding talks between the Blue Jays and Canadian health officials. He says the discussions have become more frequent and “certainly more positive” in recent weeks.
The Blue Jays have not played in Toronto since closing the 2019 season with an 8-3 win over Tampa Bay on Sept. 29.
On Sunday, Canadian health officials provided the NHL an exemption in allowing cross-border travel for teams in the Stanley Cup playoff semifinals.
When in Canada, teams will be required to stay in a bubble and be tested daily for COVID-19, similar to the tight restrictions that allowed the NHL to complete its playoffs in two hub cities last year. Teams will be assigned designated hotels and have no interaction with the public.
The NHL regular season was limited to inter-division play only and featured no cross-border travel, with the league establishing a North Division made up of its seven Canadian franchises.