BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's fully expected that the Toronto Blue Jays will host games in Buffalo this summer, but what exactly a gameday atmosphere will be like still remains a mystery.
Starting May 19, the state is allowing outdoor stadiums to have 33% capacity. That would mean roughly 5,000 fans could attend Major League Baseball games in Buffalo this year.
"Our department of health, of course, will be intimately involved in any plans to open the baseball field for the Blue Jays if that is to occur," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. "We certainly would be involved if they came here and there were fans."
Erie County does not own the baseball stadium in Buffalo, though its health department will oversee any elements including concessions and enforce capacity.
The Blue Jays are currently playing their home games in Dunedin, Florida until at least May because of COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed by the Canadian government. Their current site in Florida is also close to the spring training complex, where additional players are available in the event of an outbreak.
Games are being proposed in Buffalo later in the summer because of the increased likelihood that games would be postponed or canceled due to the weather in Florida. The stadium is currently undergoing renovations.
"Anything with the fans is much more complicated," Poloncarz said. "Beforehand it was ensuring the safety of the players and the coaching staff and the others at the facility, which were very few. Now, if we're talking in on a gameday basis bringing 33% capacity...you could have 5,000 people there for every game. How do you get those 5,000 people through?"
