Canadians Less Prevalent Than Blue Jays in Seattle
The Blue Jays Fever Cooling in the Emerald City
Summertime in Seattle means well-known events like Seafair and salmon season...and the Toronto Blue Jays rolling into town. For years, their Canadian fans would flood Seattle, camping out at T-Mobile Park, drowning out Mariners supporters. But in 2023, something's changed.
The infamous feud between then-President Trump and Canada seeped into seemingly harmless pastimes like baseball. Tariffs hindered Canada's economy, and the constant threats to turn it into the 51st state left Canadians feeling sullen.BASE ARTICLE
Travis and Lala Grant, Vancouver transplants, had attended a game each season for over a decade. However, this year, they arrived reluctantly. They purchased the tickets back in October, but since then, they've struggled to sell them. "I couldn't give 'em away; nobody wanted them," Travis lamented.
Usually, the Grants might pop down south once a month or so for shopping or lunch in Bellingham, but they'd stayed away since November. "I don't support what he's doing. He's an idiot – he should not be president," Travis bluntly stated.
But with budget in mind, they still made the trip. A man harassing passersby outside the park with an "I need tickets" sign lamented the slow ticket sales. "It's slow, it's slow."
The atmosphere inside felt different too. While Blue Jays fans were present, they didn't dominate the crowd as in years past. Mariners jerseys were plentiful, and the once ubiquitous "Let's go, Blue Jays" chants ended up scattered and subdued.
Typically, the Blue Jays' Seattle series would attract crowds of 35,880, driving around 36,000 Canadians across the border for the July 4 weekend last year. However, on the series opener, attendance dropped to 31,564 – a clear difference from previous years.[2][1]SDA + HIGHLIGHTED SENTENCES
Local businesses, eager to combat the hostility brewing across the border, rolled out the red carpet for Blue Jays fans, offering a 30% discount to Canadians with a valid ID.[8] However, federal government disputes didn't make headway in the digital realm; a local website, though a far cry from the White House, could not sway the sentiments of some nervous Canadian tourists.
For Jane and Darren Desrochers, the decision to make the trek from Victoria was a tough one. As a teacher, Darren grappled with concerns about border control and potential hostility in the U.S. Jane, an engineer, found it difficult to justify spending money in a country ruled by an idiot president. In the end, they decided to support Canada and its team.
"We debated whether to come. It was a mix of border concerns and financial issues," Jane said. The ferry carrying them and their kids was only two-thirds full, with other travelers reporting friends backing out of their trips due to the growing political and economic uncertainty.[6]
A decrease in international travel can be seen across various sectors in the Seattle area, with many ferry services reporting reservations running about 35% below normal.[7] Similarly, border crossings have dropped significantly since Trump took office, with 29% fewer Canadian cars entering Whatcom County in February, 43% fewer in March, and a staggering 51% fewer in April.[4]
For Seattle, the absence of Blue Jays fans has been felt deeply, as they've traditionally supported the team with their loud and vibrant presence. Many residents, instilled with hospitality, expressed their desire for peace between the two nations and a safe environment for visitors from the Great White North.
"We regret how our federal government is treating you," read a statement from a group of downtown restaurants and hotels offering a 30% discount to Canadians with valid IDs.[8] It was a small attempt to soothe the tension and show Seattle's solidarity with Canada.
As the series came to a close, the tension seemed to dissipate slightly as both teams celebrated warm victories. It was a reminder that, though political rhetoric and economic factors have infiltrated the world of sports, the beautiful game, like all things, has the power to unite and heal.
[1] https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/mariners/article/Mariners-lose-to-Blue-Jays-for-2-of-3-in-Seattle-15577840.php[2] https://www.seattlepi.com/mariners/article/Mariners-lose-to-Blue-Jays-for-2-of-3-games-in-15443102.php[3] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mariners-canadians-border-1.5808127[4] https://www.bchydro.com/covid-19/requirements/crossing-the-border.html[5] https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/blue-jays/2023/05/20/why-are-blue-jays-drawing-small-crowds-in-seattle-a-few-reasons.html[6] https://globalnews.ca/news/7648895/victoria-clipper-passenger-ferry-travel-decline/[7] https://www.timescolonist.com/business/travel/clipper-vacations-expects-to-cancel-several-journeys-due-to-canada-perimeter-tourism-slump-1.24118213[8] https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/mariners-significant-decline-in-blue-jays-attendee-numbers-suspected-to-be-linked-to-political-climate
- The slow ticket sales for the Toronto Blue Jays games in Seattle could be linked to the tense political climate between then-President Trump and Canada.
- Local businesses in Seattle offered discounts to Canadians with a valid ID in an attempt to combat the hostility brewing across the border.
- For some Canadian tourists, concerns about border control and potential hostility in the U.S., along with financial issues, made the decision to travel to Seattle difficult.
- The decrease in international travel can be seen across various sectors in the Seattle area, with many ferry services reporting reservations running about 35% below normal.
- The once strong presence of Blue Jays fans in Seattle has diminished, with Mariners jerseys becoming more prominent at T-Mobile Park.
- The general news and sports outlets highlighted the decreased attendance at Blue Jays games in Seattle, linking it to the political and economic uncertainty between the U.S. and Canada.
- Even though political rhetoric and economic factors have affected the world of sports, baseball, like all things, has the power to unite and heal.
