EDITOR UPDATE: J.J. Cooper of Baseball America has verified with the MiLB that no MiLB park meets current MLB standards for stadium lighting.
We at Baseball America have verified with MiLB that no MiLB park meets the current MLB standards for stadium lighting.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36)
July 20, 2020
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The Toronto Blue Jays are
looking for a new stadium to play their home games during the shortened 2020 MLB season after the Canadian government denied the team access to play at Rodgers Centre this year due to COVID-19.
#BlueJays Statement On 2020 Season Home: pic.twitter.com/lpXLapRHUD
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays)
July 18, 2020 The Blue Jays minor league affiliate's stadium in Buffalo, N.Y. and spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., are two possibilities for the team, but Toronto's play-by-play voice Dan Shulman told viewers during Saturday's exhibition game broadcast that Charlotte's minor league stadium could be a potential home.
Truist Field, located in Uptown Charlotte, is the home of the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and is regarded as one of the nicest minor league stadiums since being built in 2014.
While the possibility was originally just a rumor, the Knights released a statement on Monday stating that the two did discuss the possibility of games being played there.
“The Toronto Blue Jays organization is aware that Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, could become available for games should the need arise," the team said. "There have been no further communications between the two parties since early last week.”
Truist Field has a capacity of 10,200 and is smaller than major league parks.
Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass said players are hoping home games can be played in a major-league stadium.
Obviously, where Blue Jays play their home schedule will be determined by Blue Jays front office in concert with MLB. But Bass says GM Ross Atkins told him yesterday the club is working to get the team into a big-league ballpark: pic.twitter.com/agqcPdk17d
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling)
July 19, 2020 Due to the pandemic, MLB teams will only play 60 games this season, facing off only against their division opponents and the same division in the opposing league.
The Blue Jays are scheduled to have their first home game on July 29 against the Washington Nationals.
