Canadians Return as Blue Jays Reach World Series Amid Trade Tensions
As the Toronto Blue Jays head to the World Series, Canadian fans are navigating trade tensions and personal travel decisions. Grant Murray, a Vancouver-based attorney, had previously cut back on travel to the United States due to the ongoing US-Canadian trade dispute. However, his passion for the Blue Jays drew him to Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles for his first World Series game, alongside his brother Kevin. Kevin traveled from Australia for the occasion.
Despite economic concerns back home, Murray expressed a conflicted sense of solidarity regarding the boycott. “The Canadian economy is being hurt,” he noted, adding that many Canadians share anxieties about their future. Nevertheless, his dedication to the Blue Jays outweighed his commitment to the boycott.
Decline in Canadian Travel to the U.S.
This year has seen a significant decline in Canadian tourists to the United States. According to the US Travel Association, Canadian visits are projected to drop from 20.2 million in 2024 to 15.7 million in 2023—a reduction of approximately 22%. While the World Series may not offset these losses, it has sparked some travel among dedicated fans.
Tickets Resold to Canadian Fans
- StubHub reports that 8% of tickets sold for the World Series in Los Angeles were purchased by Canadians.
- SeatGeek, the official ticket reseller for Major League Baseball, indicates that 3% of its sales in LA went to Canadian fans.
These statistics represent thousands of tickets sold to Canadian fans over the duration of the series. For fans like Murray, seeing the Blue Jays in Seattle has been easier than traveling to Toronto, and he opted out of attending regular season games in the U.S. this year to support the boycott.
Affordability of Tickets
The prices of tickets also played a role in Murray’s choices. In Los Angeles, ticket availability was better, allowing him to purchase an upper deck seat at face value. Comparatively, Murray had encountered ticket prices in Toronto that were often two to three times higher than their original rates.
- As of Monday, the average ticket price for the World Series was nearly $1,400, influenced by expensive seat selections.
- Less expensive seats were approximately $400 in Toronto compared to $300 in Los Angeles.
Other Canadian fans echoed similar sentiments about ticket affordability. Jat Yassine, a Toronto native attending the game, remarked that tickets in Toronto sold out quickly and resale prices were exorbitant.
Shimon Sitzer, a Jays fan from Toronto now living in New York, noted that he met several fellow Canadians who had avoided U.S. travel but made exceptions to support the Blue Jays. Many agreed they came to cheer for their team rather than to support U.S. politics, illustrating the strong loyalty of Canadian fans. As the Blue Jays compete in the Series, their passionate supporters continue to navigate personal and economic dilemmas, prioritizing their love for the game above all else.
