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The Toronto Blue Jays will not be allowed to play their home games in Canada, it was announced today. Citing health concerns stemming from international travel for both Blue Jays players and visiting teams coming in from the United States in the midst of the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, the Canadian government has denied the request that the travel be allowed, and thus Toronto will be having to play home games elsewhere for 2020.
The Jays must now find an alternative home park for the 2020 season, which starts in six days, though their first home game is not until July 29. While the team’s Dunedin, Florida, spring training complex is a potential option, that is in the midst of one of the nation’s largest COVID-19 hot spots, and there are significant health concerns with that option.
The Jays indicated that Buffalo, New York, is a location they’ve been studying closely of late, and right now that would seem to be the leading candidate.