Breaking News: G20 summit might stop Halladay's return to TO

[Randle McMurphy]

Am I the only one that is happy that the G-20 summit is in Toronto? I know it's such an inconvenience to sports fans, businesses in the area, and Torontonians in general (increased security, traffic rerouting, riots against G-20, etc...). But as an economics graduate, it's such an important summit, because the world economy is still repairing itself from the global financial meltdown and it seems like we are on the path to prosperity again. We need international consensus on the path that we are to take so that we can maximize global efficiency and market growth for the next portion of the business cycle.

I honestly couldn't care less where they have any international summit, as long as it doesn't interrupt baseball games, which this one did.

[s e n s i]

Oh well, that's a solid 3-4 days vacation for me! Holler!

[Kaizen]

Am I the only one that is happy that the G-20 summit is in Toronto? I know it's such an inconvenience to sports fans, businesses in the area, and Torontonians in general (increased security, traffic rerouting, riots against G-20, etc...). But as an economics graduate, it's such an important summit, because the world economy is still repairing itself from the global financial meltdown and it seems like we are on the path to prosperity again. We need international consensus on the path that we are to take so that we can maximize global efficiency and market growth for the next portion of the business cycle.

I honestly couldn't care less where they have any international summit, as long as it doesn't interrupt baseball games, which this one did.

+1. This is how I feel as well. Somebody posted earlier that hosting this summit brings a lot of money to the city. Can you elaborate please because it does not make any sense to me. Will tourists actually come to the city because we are hosting the summit? I am wrong a lot though so I may be wrong this time too. Please also take into account that we will have to pay for extra security and police to host this.

[Randle McMurphy]

And those of you bitching about Rogers are way off base. They could have easily asked fans to suck it up and experience hassles to come to the games. But theyre losing out on revenue and attention because they dont want fans to be inconvenienced.

That's nice that you believe Beeston's words, but don't be so naive. They aren't losing out on revenue at all. They've made an agreement with the Phillies to get all that they would have gotten back and more.

And I never said that they should have played the games in Toronto. You do realize, though, that probably half the ballparks are vacated in the major leagues during any given weekend, right? They should have at least made an effort to play the games at an alternative location, instead of screwing with the competitive balance of the league (and the competitiveness of this team itself). By playing in Philadelphia instead of even a neutral park, Rogers has shown their commitment to profit above all else. No, it's not surprising, but it pisses me off.

[j127]

Am I the only one that is happy that the G-20 summit is in Toronto? I know it's such an inconvenience to sports fans, businesses in the area, and Torontonians in general (increased security, traffic rerouting, riots against G-20, etc...). But as an economics graduate, it's such an important summit, because the world economy is still repairing itself from the global financial meltdown and it seems like we are on the path to prosperity again. We need international consensus on the path that we are to take so that we can maximize global efficiency and market growth for the next portion of the business cycle.

I honestly couldn't care less where they have any international summit, as long as it doesn't interrupt baseball games, which this one did.

+1. This is how I feel as well. Somebody posted earlier that hosting this summit brings a lot of money to the city. Can you elaborate please because it does not make any sense to me. Will tourists actually come to the city because we are hosting the summit? I am wrong a lot though so I may be wrong this time too. Please also take into account that we will have to pay for extra security and police to host this.

No, there probably won't be any monetary benefit for Toronto. In fact, I'm assuming the Federal government will have to foot the bill for security, convention centre booking, amenities for the politicians who attend, etc... .

The only thing I'm hoping for is sound economic policies to chart the next several years and a good riot or two with a lot of beatings and vandalism.

[Randle McMurphy]

The only thing I'm hoping for is sound economic policies to chart the next several years and a good riot or two with a lot of beatings and vandalism.

I would be more than fine if they did both of those things elsewhere.

[j127]

The only thing I'm hoping for is sound economic policies to chart the next several years and a good riot or two with a lot of beatings and vandalism.

I would be more than fine if they did both of those things elsewhere.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Riots aren't the greatest thing for a city, but I'm a weirdo in that sense. Don't mind me. None of the other moderators or posters like me.

[Geddy]

I don't get why they keep holding these types of events in urban settings knowing the type of reactions they get from protesters. They should just teleconference these things, or have it up in some mountain villa where the average joe can't get too.

The only thing I'm hoping for is sound economic policies to chart the next several years and a good riot or two with a lot of beatings and vandalism.

I would be more than fine if they did both of those things elsewhere.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Riots aren't the greatest thing for a city, but I'm a weirdo in that sense. Don't mind me. None of the other moderators or posters like me.

I'll keep an eye out for you when they show the news footage of the riots.

[satyr9]

No, there probably won't be any monetary benefit for Toronto. In fact, I'm assuming the Federal government will have to foot the bill for security, convention centre booking, amenities for the politicians who attend, etc...

This. The ISU for the G20 and G8 (that's in Huntsville) can't be cheap and it's definitely on our dime (federal money I'm pretty sure too, but our dime). I don't think the OFL/CLC demonstrators bused in for the day will re-coup that money in tourism dollars either (and if the black bloc types show up they won't exactly be big spenders).

BTW, the rules for internationally protected persons are gonna cause most of the disruptions, stopping subways while their motorcade roles overhead and so forth. Maybe the protestors/demonstrators get involved and do something too, but my very marginally informed guess is most of the traffic snafu's are going to be from all the security necessary when these guys leave the inner perimeter (the stuff directly inside the MTCC and maybe in its immediate vicinity, but they aren't releasing those details yet). The only saving grace is most of the official protected guys will be up north, 'cause the G20 meetings will be the world's bankers, not the presi's and pm's.

Anyway, I thought we all knew we weren't getting Roy that weekend. I guess it wasn't official 'til now and I was holding out hope there was a way to reschedule rather than move, but since they announced the weekend there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell they were going to play the games down there. Forget Rogers choosing too, the ISU would've had a very very big problem with that scenario. I'm sure Rogers could've gotten into a fight about it, but imagine everyone going down to the game each day having to pass through a security fence and answer a couple questions, which for sure would've been mandatory that close to the MTCC. You would've had to show up for the game at 10a.m. or earlier because of lines. And if they receive a credible security threat, then no one gets in, not even the ballclubs. Now all I'm hoping for is one game gets rained out and they have to make it up in TO(and somehow it gets scheduled for Roy's turn in the rotation). So c'mon Philly weather and help us out.

[darth_federer]

And those of you bitching about Rogers are way off base. They could have easily asked fans to suck it up and experience hassles to come to the games. But theyre losing out on revenue and attention because they dont want fans to be inconvenienced.

That's nice that you believe Beeston's words, but don't be so naive. They aren't losing out on revenue at all. They've made an agreement with the Phillies to get all that they would have gotten back and more.

And I never said that they should have played the games in Toronto. You do realize, though, that probably half the ballparks are vacated in the major leagues during any given weekend, right? They should have at least made an effort to play the games at an alternative location, instead of screwing with the competitive balance of the league (and the competitiveness of this team itself). By playing in Philadelphia instead of even a neutral park, Rogers has shown their commitment to profit above all else. No, it's not surprising, but it pisses me off.

Its 50-50 agreement according to MLB. I fail to see how this helps the team. They lose out on jersey sales, concessions, buzz around the city e.t.c.

But hey its big bad Rogers....

[Randle McMurphy]

Its 50-50 agreement according to MLB. I fail to see how this helps the team. They lose out on jersey sales, concessions, buzz around the city e.t.c.

"50/50" means at least as much as the Jays would have gotten playing the games in Toronto, and as I said, probably a lot more than that. There was absolutely no reason they couldn't have played these games at a neutral site as any other team in baseball would have, but profit is their main motivator, not the competitiveness of this team or the rest of the league.

But hey its big bad Rogers....

Yes, the company that has stymied this team's success ever since it acquired the Jays 10 years ago and used the team solely as a device to sell its products. That big bad Rogers.

[satyr9]

I guess Francoeur was really looking forward to Roy pitching back in TO.

According to wiretap, when he heard the games were being played in Philly, he said:

That's just bull----. That's not really fair. That's just not fair.

Thanks for sticking up for us Jeffy!

[wicked_crossova]

Why dont they just move the game to a new day? Seems pretty stupid they would play it in a different city

[jalenrose#5]

Either that or reschedule the series until the end of the season and start the playoffs a day or two late. Giving the Phils 3 extra home dates and 3 less road dates is seriously giving them an advantage to any other team in the league and I would be po'ed aswell.

Another thing is to just play the series on those day and screw the hassles that the Jays speak of. The Jays are getting less people out to their games than they get at Toronto Rock games...I'm sure the extra fans would deal with the hassles to get their chance at saluting Doc for all his years with the Jays.

No wonder they can't draw flies to their games if this is how they treat fans, not to mention the raising ticket prices for a supposed crappier team and the concession ridiculousness.

just my opinion

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) announced Tuesday that its June 26th match against the Los Angeles Galaxy at BMO Field will be played as scheduled and not moved due to the upcoming G20 Summit - scheduled for June 26 & 27, 2010. Kickoff for the match will be 730pm.

Toronto FC and MLSE have been working closely with local organizers and security forces to ensure that delays and disruptions are minimized on June 26, however, with limited parking on the CNE grounds, the Direct Energy Centre’s designation as the G20 Summit Media Centre, and a number of expected road closures and delays, supporters are encouraged to utilize public transit on game day.

MLSE and Toronto FC is going forward with their scheduled game...

[J-Roc]

Make no mistake, Rogers wanted to move this series to make money off it. Are they "big bad"? Not necessarily. We want them to make money so they can invest in the team. It might have been cool to have Roy back, but really.....does it matter. He's not a Jay. It might hurt to have him embarrass us here.

[Chevy Chase]

Normally, I would be all for a G20 summit being held downtown; but I'm in the midst of working on the Waterfront Toronto project, ad I'm going to have a hell of a time maneuvering trucks throughout the downtown core for that week.

[DIEHARD_005]

Seeing Halliday back in Toronto was one of the only things I was looking forward to this season. As a casual Jays fan and not a diehard like most posters here, I couldn't care less about the rest of this season and I really don't have much interest in attending any other games. As a result of this I doubt that I'll be attending any Jays home games this season and I am actually very disappointed in Rogers decision to move the game to Philly and not come up with another alternative. I'm sure there are many fans like me who were really only interested in going to certain games this season, Doc's return to Toronto being one of them. Terrible move on Rogers' part and the MLB for once again shafting Jays fans. Reminds me of the MLB scheduling the Jays/Expos last ever series on the Canada Day long weekend in San Juan instead of in Montreal. Seeing TFC continuing their match as scheduled in Toronto makes me even more disappointed.

[Lucky26]

Normally, I would be all for a G20 summit being held downtown; but I'm in the midst of working on the Waterfront Toronto project, ad I'm going to have a hell of a time maneuvering trucks throughout the downtown core for that week.

Blame it on Jim "#$%^ing" Flaherty. This guy is the finance minister who decided to hold the G20 in the middle of downtown instead of holding both at Deerhurst (muskoka) , so he can stand on a platform and gloat on how Canada managed to "avoid" the recession.

[Randle McMurphy]

Make no mistake, Rogers wanted to move this series to make money off it. Are they "big bad"? Not necessarily. We want them to make money so they can invest in the team. It might have been cool to have Roy back, but really.....does it matter. He's not a Jay. It might hurt to have him embarrass us here.

How would Halladay shutting the Jays down be remotely embarrassing for anybody involved?