The Toronto Blue Jays were denied a request to play at the Rogers Centre as Major League Baseball approaches Thursday’s Opening Day. Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino cited frequent travel to the U.S. as the biggest issue. The Blue Jays are now looking at alternate sites for home games – their first is currently scheduled for July 29 – including the team’s spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida and its Triple-A affiliate’s home in Buffalo, New York.
Other Coronavirus Updates:
— Major League Soccer announced that three of its four expansion franchises will start a year later than planned because of disruptions from the coronavirus. Charlotte will join the league in 2022 rather than 2021, and Sacramento and St. Louis will start in 2023 instead of 2022. Austin FC will start as previously scheduled in 2021.
— The Tokyo Olympics were already postponed a full year until 2021, and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said there are a number of options being considered to make sure the Games happen – because another postponement is off the table. If they are not held next year, Bach said the Tokyo Games will be canceled altogether. The postponement has already cost the I.O.C. an estimated $800 million.
— The World Surf League canceled its World Championship Tour and announced it would start its 2021 tour later this year to provide schedule flexibility should the pandemic persist.
