Blue Jays set for grand return of typical spring home-opener

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The Blue Jays consider they’ve coated all of the bases for followers desirous to get again to the sport.

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Together with unveiling a brand new video board, and a serious overhaul to their area, the group additionally has plans for promotional giveaways beginning opening weekend this Friday on the Rogers Centre.

“I encourage followers to get right here early if they will for these video games,” stated Jessica Wooden, senior supervisor, promotions and Occasions.

The giveaways begin with a Jays cap on each seat for followers at Sport 1 versus the visiting Texas Rangers.

These promotions proceed all through the highly-anticipated opening weekend and properly into the season.

The in-game advertising had been shelved for such an extended stretch of time as a result of pandemic.

“Quite a lot of this stuff we produced for the 2020 season, truly. And we launched them and we had been excited after which COVID had different plans for us so we needed to put our plans on maintain,” Wooden stated.

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“Having the ability to reintroduce a few of these objects is tremendous thrilling.”

As the primary April residence opener since 2019 approaches, area crew members continued to work Wednesday on the infield and pitching mound.

The group has additionally made adjustments to the taking part in floor which they are saying will make the sport safer for gamers.

The crew’s director of area operations is comfortable to start a brand new season at residence after taking part in in Florida and Buffalo a lot of the final two years.

“Dunedin followers, and Buffalo followers and the group had been nice hosts to us. It was an incredible expertise,” stated Tom Farrell. “However there’s one thing about being at residence and having the ability to benefit from the baseball sport with our followers and getting again to having the crew we have now and having our stadium crammed.”

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Followers within the crammed stadium will even see a brand new 8,000-square foot video board and LED lights.

Particular occasions and giveaways will proceed into the season with participant bobbleheads and duplicate jerseys provided.

And, in tribute to the person who broke baseball’s color barrier, the crew is taking part in Jackie Robinson Day on Friday, April 15.

“That is the primary time we’ve been capable of do a giveaway and theme day for Jackie Robinson,” Wooden stated.

Anticipation amongst followers, gamers and workers is palpable.

For Farrell, listening to the roar of the followers, as soon as once more, makes the sport expertise that rather more intense for everybody — particularly the gamers.

“It actually has an impression,” Farrell stated.

First pitch Friday is 7:07 p.m. in opposition to the Rangers.