Will the Blue Jays ever play games in England?

[Halloweenjack]

I spoke to someone whilst in Toronto last month who heard that the Blue Jays may be playing some games in England in 2024

 

I really hope this is true being English. I think being the only Canadian team in MLB would endear many people to support the Blue Jays. Since I’ve got back home and become hooked on baseball, I’ve found out one of my neighbours is a fan and seen them play. I know of someone else who follows them too and Friday just gone my eldest son went to school wearing his Blue Jays cap and t shirt and a fellow pupil approached him and said he liked the Blue Jays and had seen them play, then best yet his P.E teacher said he had seen them play and supported them and caught a ball at the game which he still has.

 

I’m sure there are some on here who get to hear about whether the Blue Jays would play some matches in England in the future?

[John_Havok]

I spoke to someone whilst in Toronto last month who heard that the Blue Jays may be playing some games in England in 2024

 

I really hope this is true being English. I think being the only Canadian team in MLB would endear many people to support the Blue Jays. Since I’ve got back home and become hooked on baseball, I’ve found out one of my neighbours is a fan and seen them play. I know of someone else who follows them too and Friday just gone my eldest son went to school wearing his Blue Jays cap and t shirt and a fellow pupil approached him and said he liked the Blue Jays and had seen them play, then best yet his P.E teacher said he had seen them play and supported them and caught a ball at the game which he still has.

 

I’m sure there are some on here who get to hear about whether the Blue Jays would play some matches in England in the future?

 

There have been games played in other countries before (Japan, Monterrey, Australia, England, Puerto Rico), just this year there was a series in Mexico City. Next season its already confirmed there will be a series played in South Korea. Anything is possible. one of the regular Blue Jays reporters reported last spring that the Jays playing in London could happen within the next 5 years

 

The plan (according to MLB) is that since the new collective bargaining agreement was signed, they planned on hosting games in London, Paris, Mexico(done), Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Asia(next year - South Korea) during the lifespan of the current collective bargaining agreement.

[Carlos Danger]

Not to be a Debbie downer, but I honestly hope not. We can't watch the games at a reasonable hour in North America, the travel and time zone changes are excruciating for a baseball team and could have collateral affects on their performance.

 

The play football once a week, so easier to integrate into a schedule. However, where are you going go get a week gap for baseball. Anything less is putting the teams playing in the UK at a disadvantage when they return.

 

Also, it seems like just a gimmick. Many other markets which are more lucrative for MLB to expand to then the UK, so apart from a gimmick, why....?

[Halloweenjack]

I believe there have been 2 games played in England and they are highest attended outside of North America with just under 60,000 for the NYY v Boston RS

That must be a bit of a coup to get what I understand to be the biggest game in MLB

I really hope the Blue Jays play in England soon.

[Halloweenjack]

Not to be a Debbie downer, but I honestly hope not. We can't watch the games at a reasonable hour in North America, the travel and time zone changes are excruciating for a baseball team and could have collateral affects on their performance.

 

The play football once a week, so easier to integrate into a schedule. However, where are you going go get a week gap for baseball. Anything less is putting the teams playing in the UK at a disadvantage when they return.

 

Also, it seems like just a gimmick. Many other markets which are more lucrative for MLB to expand to then the UK, so apart from a gimmick, why....?

 

Which market would be more lucrative than the U.K. though ? I would imagine it would create more revenue than any other nation outside of North America (maybe the exception being Japan ) you only have to look at the NFL when played in England. Every time the stadiums are packed out, it would be the same with baseball.

I can understand your point of view about the scheduling and time difference and travel. It would be interesting to look at the Yankees and Red Sox form after they returned from London.

But in any sport with the potential for a huge audience, money talks and I’m guessing it was worth the Yankees and Red Sox time and effort to play in London.

From a marketing perspective think of the extra revenue it could possibly bring for the Blue Jays with regard to merchandise, if you expand the popularity of the game to outside North America and Japan.

[Carlos Danger]

Which market would be more lucrative than the U.K. though ? I would imagine it would create more revenue than any other nation outside of North America (maybe the exception being Japan ) you only have to look at the NFL when played in England. Every time the stadiums are packed out, it would be the same with baseball.

I can understand your point of view about the scheduling and time difference and travel. It would be interesting to look at the Yankees and Red Sox form after they returned from London.

But in any sport with the potential for a huge audience, money talks and I’m guessing it was worth the Yankees and Red Sox time and effort to play in London.

From a marketing perspective think of the extra revenue it could possibly bring for the Blue Jays with regard to merchandise, if you expand the popularity of the game to outside North America and Japan.

 

There were crowds of over 100K at exhibition and various WC soccer games in the US. 109K at a few games... Yet soccer as a spectator sport, TV revenue advertising $$s in the U.S doesn't move the needle much.

 

The average American including myself couldn't name but one or two soccer teams if that..

 

Montreal had big numbers for exhibition games. Yet most smart baseball people don't think Montreal could support a team again and isn't a good site for expansion.

 

The foreign add revenue doesn't add to the large network contracts or MLB packages sold to homes in the U.S and Canada..

 

I don't know, I think Mexico would make more sense before the UK.. There are still cities in the US that are large markets that don't have teams..

 

I just don't see it anytime soon.

[Stangstag]

Yall are out of the loop, because there's another London series in June this season between the Cardinals and Cubs.

 

Could maybe see the Jays playing there but they'll probably go with the more popular/historic teams first.

[Laika]

What better MLB team to play in ENGLAND than the only Commonwealth team in the league?

 

Do people in St Louis, Chicago, New York, or Boston have the Queen mum on their moneys?

 

Poutine is basically just beans on toast if you squint. Or bangers and mash, more like.

[Carlos Danger]

What better MLB team to play in ENGLAND than the only Commonwealth team in the league?

 

Do people in St Louis, Chicago, New York, or Boston have the Queen mum on their moneys?

 

Poutine is basically just beans on toast if you squint. Or bangers and mash, more like.

 

Yea, but in England right handed batters have to go over to the left side and vice versa.. We don't have many switch hitters so it puts us at a big disadvantage.. Also, afternoon games have to stop and take a break at 4 pm, for Tea time.. .... Not conducive to the speeding up of the game..

[Jonn]

Move the Rays to Montreal. Play a series in England. Boom.

[Halloweenjack]

What better MLB team to play in ENGLAND than the only Commonwealth team in the league?

 

Do people in St Louis, Chicago, New York, or Boston have the Queen mum on their moneys?

 

Poutine is basically just beans on toast if you squint. Or bangers and mash, more like.

 

Your first statement is exactly the reason why the Blue Jays would be very popular in the U.K.

MLB is the third most watched sports league in the world (NFL number 2 and English premier league number 1)yet it is limited to a few countries. There is the potential to expand the game further and with games now being played outside of North America, it is starting to happen.

[Halloweenjack]

Yea, but in England right handed batters have to go over to the left side and vice versa.. We don't have many switch hitters so it puts us at a big disadvantage.. Also, afternoon games have to stop and take a break at 4 pm, for Tea time.. .... Not conducive to the speeding up of the game..

 

Just think of the great crowd chants you could pick up. Granted many are obscene but good none the less 🙂

[Jonn]

Hard to imagine people in England caring about Canada’s team. Our relationship tied to the King and Commonwealth is because our government is to lazy to do the paperwork to sever all ties. Its absolutely silly the Queen has been on our money all these years. And now this King lol.

 

Like I feel no connection to England and my Grandfather on my Dad’s side was born there lol.

 

I would assume the most popular teams in America would sell there. Jays are rarely on National TV.

[Carlos Danger]

Hard to imagine people in England caring about Canada’s team. Our relationship tied to the King and Commonwealth is because our government is to lazy to do the paperwork to sever all ties. Its absolutely silly the Queen has been on our money all these years. And now this King lol.

 

Like I feel no connection to England and my Grandfather on my Dad’s side was born there lol.

 

I would assume the most popular teams in America would sell there. Jays are rarely on National TV.

 

I agree with Jonn! Spend all the money you guys do on the Gov General and all that crap and put it into Veterans support and become a Republic like most of the other modern democracies;)

[John_Havok]

The man makes a good point though in that Europe would probably be the MLB's biggest potential market. It wouldnt have near the political kind of barrier that South America, Central america, certain parts of Asia and China would have... It's a very well developed and population concentrated continent that already has a solid and ever-growing baseball presence.

[Carlos Danger]

The man makes a good point though in that Europe would probably be the MLB's biggest potential market. It wouldnt have near the political kind of barrier that South America, Central america, certain parts of Asia and China would have... It's a very well developed and population concentrated continent that already has a solid and ever-growing baseball presence.

 

Do they even have little leagues or domestic baseball leagues in the UK?

[Halloweenjack]

Well I’ve got to say that when I started this thread, I didn’t expect it to turn into an anti monarchy thread. I guess you live and learn. 🙂

[Carlos Danger]

Well I’ve got to say that when I started this thread, I didn’t expect it to turn into an anti monarchy thread. I guess you live and learn.

 

Is this the part where you say, Off with their heads!!!

[John_Havok]

Do they even have little leagues or domestic baseball leagues in the UK?

 

Absolutely. They are most definitely in their infancy confpared to North America but they are present. The British Baseball Federation oversees everything there.

[Jonn]

Absolutely. They are most definitely in their infancy confpared to North America but they are present. The British Baseball Federation oversees everything there.

 

Let them know if they need help designing the next Great Britain jersey. Give me 10 minutes in Paint and I can design something cooler.

[Stangstag]

Let them know if they need help designing the next Great Britain jersey. Give me 10 minutes in Paint and I can design something cooler.

 

There was a manufacturing issue or something with their original order and they basically had to order in-stock s*** the week of the tournament apparently

[Carlos Danger]

Well I’ve got to say that when I started this thread, I didn’t expect it to turn into an anti monarchy thread. I guess you live and learn.

 

We were just joshing with you... Just be thankful you are not French.. The jokes would be 10 times worse..

[TheHurl]

i can with 100% certainty say this is in discussion for 2025. It's Cards and Cubs this year. If the Jays are willing to give up 2 home games, it will be them and Boston. In this case I can even name my source. Jack Duffy, former booking manager for Queen Elizabeth Park. June 21, 22 are the dates set aside for the game.

[Spanky99]

Yall are out of the loop, because there's another London series in June this season between the Cardinals and Cubs.

 

Could maybe see the Jays playing there but they'll probably go with the more popular/historic teams first.

 

lol... and CD seems to think the English are trying to get an MLB team? Or I'm reading it wrong, basically the answer is yes for the OP.