The Toronto Blue Jays, currently the only Major League Baseball organization not based in
the United States, started play and selling Blue Jays tickets in 1977. As what happens to most expansion teams, the Blue Jays had a few rough years in
the beginning, as they were building with players made available by other MLB teams. At
the same time, the Jays put a considerable amount of money and other resources into their
farm system, developing young players. Some of the young players, like shortstop Tony
Fernandez, soon became fan favorites.
Blue Jays tickets sold easily as fans have always had faith in the franchise. Led by ta
solid core of young players, the Jays won their first American League Eastern Division
championship in 1985, starting a string of mostly successful seasons for the next eight years.
A key trade by the organization was obtaining Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar from the San
Diego Padres, for Fernandez and Fred McGriff, in the 1990 off-season.
During the same off-season, Devon White was obtained from the California Angels. Carter
and Alomar became key parts of back-to-back World Series Championships in 1992 and
1993. Alomar is the first Blue Jays player inducted into the baseball hall of fame, and his
number, 12, has been retired by the organization. The Jays, though not making the playoffs
since 1993, have remained a model of efficiency, and fan support, in the American League
Eastern Division.
From the early days of the franchise, Blue Jays tickets were an easy sell. The team had no
problem filling seats in the aging CNE stadium. In 1977, their inaugural season, the Toronto Blue Jays had over 1.7
million fans, a record at the time a record for an expansion team. The biggest selling
point has always been the commitment of the organization to bring in quality talent through
development or via trades.
In 1989, the Blue Jays moved into the brand new facility, the Sky Dome. This was the
first stadium, built specifically for baseball, with a retractable dome. The stadium is now
known as the Rogers Centre, named after the owner of the stadium and the team, Rogers
Communications.
Blue Jays tickets became a better value as the new stadium protected fans from the
elements, and offered many other comforts, such as a hotel room with a view of the game.
Playing in stadium was also one of the perks offered to potential free agents. The Blue Jays have
only drawn less than a million fans only once since 1977, and that was in the strike shortened
1981 season. In the early 1990's the team lead the American league in attendance from
1990 through the strike shortened 1994 season. 1991 saw the Blue Jays become the first
major league team ever to draw over four million fans. Though other franchises have had their
attendance woes, Blue Jays attendance has always been consistent. To this day the Toronto
Blue Jays continue to be a major draw. Tickets are always a hot item among fans.