Rogers Centre Diaries (Jays live thread)

[Rhettmatic]

I thought I'd start a thread just for discussion of going to games. (Non-spammy swwapping/selling tickets could go on here too I guess, since it happens on the Raptors board.)

How often do you guys go to games? Where do you sit? What's the experience been like this year?

Most obnoxious in-person opposing fanbase?

[Latrell]

Went to the Mets series back in June. Sat behind the bullpen, first row. First time behind the bullpen, and honestly preferred it to sitting behind the plate. It's cool watching those guys warm up right close.

[Sifu]

I go about 3-4 times a year with my boys. Usually on junior Jay saturdays. We sit in the family friendly section on the 200 level near the left foul pole. Sightlines there are good although hard to see the left field near the wall.

Despite it being 'family friendly', I've seen instances of boorish fan behaviour that includes drunkenness and swearing. But I guess it's like that wherever you sit

[whysoserious]

Went to the home opener and sat in the 200 level in right field, almost lined up to Bautista in foul territory. Great view.

Also went to game two of that series and sat at the third base line maybe 15 rows up. Coolest thing about that game was Bruno was there sitting 5 rows in front of us.

Been to a few other games with the company in the box or events that have happened.

Planning to definitely catch a Price start now if possible. Probably going on the 28th vs the Tigers.

[Santoki]

I have the 500 level seasons for $100/seat. Had it for about four years now. Gave them to a cousin this year as I didn't have the time to attend many games.

I can't sit in the 500s anymore though. That's where the youngest, dumbest, bleacher creature fans sit. And it's not like their more hardcore and know the game. They just get the drunkest and most obnoxious. Any time I do go I just go straight for the centerfield standing section and watch it from there. I like being able to see the pitcher's location of pitches. It mimics as closely as possible to watching the game at home.

Best seats I've ever had were last year against the Rays right beside the Jays dugout behind home plate. It was during the 9-game win streak when Gose ended it with a classic walk off bunt. After watching a game there every other seat just feels inadequate.

But in terms of value for your buck I prefer either 1st or 3rd baseline up to about where the ballboy sits or in the first deck of the outfield just in front of the Jays bullpen.

[Lateral Quicks]

Yeah, I can't sit in the 500s anymore either. Been there, done that.

I usually sit in the lower bowl, either in the outfield or down a baseline. I don't get to as many games as I used to because I no longer live in Toronto, so when I do go I make sure the seats are decent.

[C Court]

I go to 3-4 games each year. Usually sit lower bowl near first or third base.

Went on Saturday and grabbed a pair in row 2 of the upper bowl behind home plate. Crowd was lots of young people and families. Had a great view and enjoyed the game. Can't say I've seen much boorish behaviour. Just lots of people having fun at the Jays game. Upper deck seats are the best sports entertainment value in the city.

Only negative with the upper deck is the total lack of maintenance. Seats are rusting and there hasn't been any new paint for twenty years. With all the money that Rogers has, you'd think they could clean it up a little.

[tecumseh18]

For my family, especially on Canada Day, I like to grab 500-level Row 2 or 3 right behind home plate. I don't like Row 1 because I don't want my kids (8 and 6) to flip over the bar.

They're not very expensive, but they offer a great view of the pitches and the game generally.

[J-Roc]

They're saying sellout, but I see the boxscore says 45,766 for yesterday. 45,736 for the day before.

So is a sellout considered less than the 50,000+ of yesteryear? Have they shut down sections? Or are they selling 50,000 and only 45,000 show up?

[gei]

Seating capacity has been greatly reduced with the enlargement of the concourses and other renovations many years ago - the can't fit in 50,000+ for a baseball game anymore. If they are saying it's a sellout then it's a sellout.

[CrookedJ]

I go about 3-4 times a year with my boys. Usually on junior Jay saturdays. We sit in the family friendly section on the 200 level near the left foul pole. Sightlines there are good although hard to see the left field near the wall.

Despite it being 'family friendly', I've seen instances of boorish fan behaviour that includes drunkenness and swearing. But I guess it's like that wherever you sit

For Jr Jays Saturdays, do you know what time all the stuff starts before the game - the batting tees and the bouncy castles etc?

[Sifu]

I go about 3-4 times a year with my boys. Usually on junior Jay saturdays. We sit in the family friendly section on the 200 level near the left foul pole. Sightlines there are good although hard to see the left field near the wall.

Despite it being 'family friendly', I've seen instances of boorish fan behaviour that includes drunkenness and swearing. But I guess it's like that wherever you sit

For Jr Jays Saturdays, do you know what time all the stuff starts before the game - the batting tees and the bouncy castles etc?

I haven't seen batting tees or bouncy castles, but maybe we don't arrive early enough.

We get to the game about one hour to thirty minutes prior. There is the face painting and the kids can get a photo printed out in Baseball gear. After the game is running the fields but that's about 30 to 40 minutes after the game. And of course the kids are half price tickets.

[CrookedJ]

I go about 3-4 times a year with my boys. Usually on junior Jay saturdays. We sit in the family friendly section on the 200 level near the left foul pole. Sightlines there are good although hard to see the left field near the wall.

Despite it being 'family friendly', I've seen instances of boorish fan behaviour that includes drunkenness and swearing. But I guess it's like that wherever you sit

For Jr Jays Saturdays, do you know what time all the stuff starts before the game - the batting tees and the bouncy castles etc?

I haven't seen batting tees or bouncy castles, but maybe we don't arrive early enough.

We get to the game about one hour to thirty minutes prior. There is the face painting and the kids can get a photo printed out in Baseball gear. After the game is running the fields but that's about 30 to 40 minutes after the game. And of course the kids are half price tickets.

I looked around and found this:

Every Saturday home game until August 29 kids can join us outside Gate 10 for the Blue Jays Jr. Jays Outdoor Program which opens at 11:00 a.m. and runs until first pitch. Kids can enjoy our pitching and hitting stations, other great inflatables to jump and run around in, the Boston Pizza sign shop, artists, entertainers as well as a DJ and Host running games and giving away prizes! New this season, we've expanded and brought some of the fun over to Gate 5 where kids can enjoy some games and entertainment from 11:00 a.m. until first pitch.

[Scott Hall]

I went to the last 2 home games and I was surprised to see that it was hard to get chants going...

Different pockets of the stadium would try...

"Let's go Blue Jays"
"MVP" for Donaldson
"Jose Jose Jose Jose Jooooose"
"Tu-lo Tu-lo Tu-lo"

So many people just sit there and look like deadbeats or that their watching a movie and don't want to be disturbed...

No wonder Winfield wanted noise...but I've heard the Dome get loud before even in the last 10 years or so. I was
surprised with everything that's transpired lately that a lot of people refuse to get loud.

[torontoaces04]

I go to 3-4 games each year. Usually sit lower bowl near first or third base.

Went on Saturday and grabbed a pair in row 2 of the upper bowl behind home plate. Crowd was lots of young people and families. Had a great view and enjoyed the game. Can't say I've seen much boorish behaviour. Just lots of people having fun at the Jays game. Upper deck seats are the best sports entertainment value in the city.

Only negative with the upper deck is the total lack of maintenance. Seats are rusting and there hasn't been any new paint for twenty years. With all the money that Rogers has, you'd think they could clean it up a little.

Couldn't agree more.

[LLJ]

I went to the last 2 home games and I was surprised to see that it was hard to get chants going...

Different pockets of the stadium would try...

"Let's go Blue Jays"
"MVP" for Donaldson
"Jose Jose Jose Jose Jooooose"
"Tu-lo Tu-lo Tu-lo"

So many people just sit there and look like deadbeats or that their watching a movie and don't want to be disturbed...

No wonder Winfield wanted noise...but I've heard the Dome get loud before even in the last 10 years or so. I was
surprised with everything that's transpired lately that a lot of people refuse to get loud.

Baseball isn't a high adrenaline sport though. It's easier to cheer on the faster action of basketball or hockey, stuff that gets people pumped up enough to make noise.

Then again, soccer has long periods of dead play and TFC fans seem loud enough.

[C Court]

I went to the last 2 home games and I was surprised to see that it was hard to get chants going...

Different pockets of the stadium would try...

"Let's go Blue Jays"
"MVP" for Donaldson
"Jose Jose Jose Jose Jooooose"
"Tu-lo Tu-lo Tu-lo"

So many people just sit there and look like deadbeats or that their watching a movie and don't want to be disturbed...

No wonder Winfield wanted noise...but I've heard the Dome get loud before even in the last 10 years or so. I was
surprised with everything that's transpired lately that a lot of people refuse to get loud.

Baseball isn't a high adrenaline sport though. It's easier to cheer on the faster action of basketball or hockey, stuff that gets people pumped up enough to make noise.

Then again, soccer has long periods of dead play and TFC fans seem loud enough.

Yup. And some of it is likely due to baseball attracting more casual fans than other major sports.

Also, the Jays/Rogers Centre demographic is skewed almost 40% female. My 19 y/o daughter and her friends could care less about the game, but they love going to the ball park. They like being downtown and the atmosphere at the game. Upper bowl tickets are cheap and they head over to a patio bar on Front or the Esplanade after the game.

I was at Saturday's game and was surrounded by families and 20-somethings who were enjoying a warm Saturday afternoon - but paying very little attention to the game. That's baseball.

[Rhettmatic]

Yup. And some of it is likely due to baseball attracting more casual fans than other major sports.

Also, the Jays/Rogers Centre demographic is skewed almost 40% female. My 19 y/o daughter and her friends could care less about the game, but they love going to the ball park. They like being downtown and the atmosphere at the game. Upper bowl tickets are cheap and they head over to a patio bar on Front or the Esplanade after the game.

I was at Saturday's game and was surrounded by families and 20-somethings who were enjoying a warm Saturday afternoon - but paying very little attention to the game. That's baseball.

Agree on loving the value of the 500s.

I love that you can bring in food. We'll go and get good takeout nearby and bring it with us to the game, along with snacks, drinks. It's awesome.

That's where I'll be for the Yankees game Friday, which David Price is supposed to pitch.

[C Court]

Yup. And some of it is likely due to baseball attracting more casual fans than other major sports.

Also, the Jays/Rogers Centre demographic is skewed almost 40% female. My 19 y/o daughter and her friends could care less about the game, but they love going to the ball park. They like being downtown and the atmosphere at the game. Upper bowl tickets are cheap and they head over to a patio bar on Front or the Esplanade after the game.

I was at Saturday's game and was surrounded by families and 20-somethings who were enjoying a warm Saturday afternoon - but paying very little attention to the game. That's baseball.

Agree on loving the value of the 500s.

I love that you can bring in food. We'll go and get good takeout nearby and bring it with us to the game, along with snacks, drinks. It's awesome.

That's where I'll be for the Yankees game Friday, which David Price is supposed to pitch.

It is awesome! Guys next to us had a few big bags of Lays chips and were passing them around. Free food is good!

[dagger]

Next weekend's NYY series here is sold out. Looks like Thursday's game against Oakland is close to selling out, too. The games on Aug 29, 30 almost sold out. They sold 700 Tulo t-shirts and 300 Tulo jerseys last weekend, part of the biggest merchandise weekend in club history.

You have to hope for the Jays sake that Rogers has an epiphany and imagines what attendance, TV ratings and merchandise and food sales would be like if it actually kept this team together.