Blue Jays fans dining out more as team feasts on competition

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Toronto is hungry for a World Series title—and the city's snack between fans, fans and home team support.

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New data from the restaurant platform OpenTable found that, like enthusiasm for the Blue Jays, the number of restaurants in Toronto is growing, up more than 32% per day on average in Toronto, based on online bookings, compared to the same period in 2024.

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The uptick in dining was observed during the last four postseason games in Toronto — Oct. 4, 5, 12 and 13 — leading up to Sunday's deciding Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners in the Big Smoke.

“Our restaurant data shows that cultural moments like major sporting events can bring people together to dine out in incredible ways as they gather to celebrate, watch the game and share the excitement at local restaurants and bars,” says Matt Davis, senior regional director at OpenTable Canada.

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Plenty of restaurants downtown for Jay fans.

For Jay fans, there are plenty of restaurants downtown and at the Rogers Center, including Score on Queen, Sportsnet Grill, and Loose Moose, to name a few.

OpenTable allows people to make restaurant reservations in advance and also filter by restaurant style, such as pub. Visitors can also explore options on OpenTable Icons, which brings together the city's most popular restaurants in one place.

This fall, the Blue Jays advanced to the ALCS for the first time since 2016, capturing the American League East regular-season title before dispatching the New York Yankees to the American League Division Series earlier this month.

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“We have TVs on our patio, and even on cold nights people are watching them. So it's nice to have something to get people excited about during this transitional time of the season,” Cameron Sokalski, general manager of Score on Queen, said Now Toronto. “Everyone is very excited. Lots of blue, lots of jerseys. We always have the sound on during the game, so it's very loud in here. Lots of TVs, so people yell at the TVs for good and bad reasons.”

The increase in restaurant traffic during a Jays postseason game isn't limited to Toronto, of course.

A bartender at Firth's Celtic Pub in Hamilton estimates the establishment is up 25 per cent as October baseball gets into full swing.

“Here the energy is brighter, more electric,” said Małgorzata Kowalewska. CCTV in Hamilton. “People stay longer and spend more money—of course they take one or two chances to win.”

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The business boom was not unexpected.

The further the Blue Jays get past the MLB season, the more local businesses will benefit, according to past data. Cost data provided by Moneriscompany specializing in payment processing.

“With the Jays entering the playoffs as the top seed in the American League, that means one extra home game in the ALDS and ALCS if the series goes the distance,” said Vice President of Business Development Sean McCormick in a press release.

“Our data shows that when the stakes are high, fans take responsibility not only for their team, but also for local businesses.”

During Game 1 of the Maple Leafs' second-round playoff game against the Florida Panthers last spring, the company said restaurant spending in the city increased 13% compared to non-game day.

By Game 7 of the series, spending picked up again, up 18% downtown as fans packed local restaurants before the Leafs wrapped up the postseason.

The company said restaurant spending during Game 4, when the Leafs were on the road in Florida, increased 25%, suggesting fans were intent on dining out to cheer on the team from afar.

“Looking back at the Leafs playoffs earlier this year, we saw a double-digit increase in restaurant spending on game days,” McCormick said.

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