The city of Toronto is preparing for Game 1 of the ALCS between the Blue Jays and Mariners tonight, with first pitch scheduled for 8:03pm ET at Rogers Centre.
On Friday, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced that it was “moving the time” of the Maple Leafs’ game against the Red Wings on Monday to 2pm from 4pm “to avoid conflicting with the Jays’ game later that afternoon, adding that fans can stick around after the hockey game to watch the Jays on the jumbotron at Scotiabank Arena.” ALCS Game 2 is set to start at 5:03pm (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/11).
Blue Jays gear is “flying off the shelves from Windsor to Ottawa.” Shortly after Game 1 tickets went on sale on Thursday morning, the “cheapest available on StubHub, a standing-room-only seat, was going for $455.” The Blue Jays will “also be putting general admission, standing-room-only tickets on sale at an unspecified time.” Rogers is “also giving away 500 tickets to every post-season home game” (TORONTO STAR, 10/11).
The TORONTO STAR goes with the header, “West Coast Blue Jays fans debate trip to Seattle for ALCS amid tensions with U.S.” Blue Jays fans “always show up when they play the Mariners in Seattle.” But ahead of the ALCS matchup, some are “more hesitant this time around” (TORONTO STAR, 10/11).
After their 15-inning ALDS Game 5 win on Friday, the Mariners’ “two charter planes — one for the players, big-league staff and front office, and another for families and remaining staff — were delayed getting out of Seattle by a couple of hours Saturday.” The plane with families and staff “actually left before the plane that was booked for the players” (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/11).
The Mariners’ game on Friday lasted four hours and 58 minutes and was the “longest winner-take-all postseason game in major-league history” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/11). A “historic win” prompted a sold-out T-Mobile Park of 47,025 fans to “leap to their feet and cheer at the top of their lungs” (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/10). The SEATTLE TIMES goes with the header, “Mariners’ historic win caused a ‘little earthquake,’ seismologist says” (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/11).