Raptors, Leafs Shift Games to Make Way for Blue Jays’ World Series Run

TORONTO — The weight of the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series in Canada’s largest city, as well as the power of the Rogers Communications sports empire, are on full display. 

The NBA’s Raptors and NHL’s Maple Leafs, now also part of the Rogers portfolio along with the Blue Jays, each have moved up the start times of upcoming games during the World Series to avoid making fans have to choose entirely between the teams. Among the upcoming changes (all times Eastern):

• Oct. 24: The Raptors’ home game against the Bucks will start at 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 24: The Maple Leafs’ road game at the Sabres will start at 7 p.m.
• Oct. 25: The Maple Leafs’ home game against the Sabres will start at 5 p.m.
• Oct. 28: The Maple Leafs’ home game against the Flames will start at 6 p.m.
• Oct. 29: The Raptors’ home game against the Rockets will start at 6:30 p.m.

The time changes vary from 15 minutes to two hours, but all with a clear eye on getting those games completed at or near the 8 p.m. ET start times of each of the World Series contests. Rogers Communications, which gained majority control of Maple Leafs and Raptors parent company Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in July, will show the World Series games on the Scotiabank Arena videoboard after each of the games.

“We are proud to have the city’s teams come together and give these fans an opportunity to experience a significant moment in our city’s and nation’s history,” said MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley in a statement. “Each of these game time changes are quite complicated and represent the cooperation of many stakeholders, including the respected leagues, coaches, and players of the Leafs, Raptors, and opposing teams and broadcasters.”

The Blue Jays are making their first appearance in the World Series in 32 years, and already, surging television viewership in Canada has made the team’s performance a national event. 

Rogers Revenue Results

Rogers Communications, meanwhile, also released Thursday its third-quarter results, with the figures further reflecting the company’s creation of one of the most powerful sports entities in the world. 

Total revenue, which also includes the company’s many other businesses, rose 4% to $3.8 billion, while net income grew nearly tenfold to $4.1 billion, fueled in large part by one-time, non-cash gains related to the acquisition of the additional MLSE equity during the quarter. Company executives particularly touted the recent influx of additional revenue from both the Blue Jays’ ongoing run and the MLSE acquisition, and predicted more such fiscal uplift in the fourth quarter. 

“We are building a sports business at scale, and we are assessing multiple options to unlock additional value,” said Rogers president and CEO Tony Staffieri.