Toronto Blue Jays hope to make a mark in the American League Championship Series when they take the field, but economists and business leaders say boosting the series' popularity for the city may be more of a walk in the park.
“The thing about large-scale sporting events, large-scale music events and large-scale events in general is that the economic impact tends to be greatly exaggerated,” said Moshe Lander, a sports economist at Concordia University.
The Jays will take on the Seattle Mariners in a best-of-three series that begins Sunday night in Toronto.
Lander said the Blue Jays' run is a lot like the Maple Leafs' playoffs in that it will be short and highly concentrated, with people buying tickets and stopping at a local bar near the stadium, making it seem busier and better for the economy.
But in reality, he said, gaming is taking business from one part of the city and temporarily moving it to another.
While people may be working retail or parking that night, they may actually have to give up a shift at their regular job to do it.
“The net effect is much closer to zero because you also have to factor in the costs,” he said. “When you look at fans and say, 'Well, they're spending a lot of money on tickets,' their total income hasn't changed, they haven't gotten a raise at work, they're not being more productive. They're not getting a raise because the Jays have moved on, so their disposable income hasn't changed and they're choosing to buy tickets, then that must mean they're making cuts elsewhere.”
Even if this is a temporary phenomenon, there may still be some benefits for various industries.
For example, the hospitality industry may see growth as people book hotels and visit restaurants.
Ahead of the Jays' American League Division Series games against the New York Yankees, Greater Toronto Hotel Association CEO Sarah Angel told The Canadian Press that events like these could have an impact.
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She pointed to last year's NHL All-Star weekend, which increased demand for downtown hotels by 35 percent compared to 2023.
Kelly Higginson, CEO of Restaurants Canada, said the Jays' playoffs could be important “now more than ever” for the industry, given the affordability crisis many Canadians still face.
However, she warned that this may not be enough.
“75 per cent of Canadians say the affordability crisis is forcing hard-working Canadians to give up something as simple as a Sunday lunch out with friends, which is very sad to see,” Higginson told Global News.
Higginson was referring to a report her organization released last month that found most Canadians are eating out less due to the rising cost of living.
Daymin Bodnar, owner of Hemingway's Restaurant and Bar, told The Canadian Press he still hopes the playoffs will be good for business.
Before the ALDS, he said he expected more than 200 additional customers each day during Jays play, adding that during the Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship run his restaurant was packed at every game and hopes Jays fans will bring the same atmosphere.
“It will bring people a good mood, a good atmosphere, a good experience and give them a reason to watch it with other people,” he said.
The ALCS is still one game away from the World Series, and Lander told Global News that if the Jays advance further into the playoffs and possibly the finals, it could change the Canadians' financial decisions.
“What matters is the psychological impact on the economy,” Lander said. “You'll find that people will loosen their wallets to spend it on the Jays, spend it on merchandise, go to the bar maybe one extra time a week, a month where they otherwise wouldn't, and they'll make excuses about the last time Toronto was here.”
However, if the Jays go all the way, Lander cautions the Canadians against moving too quickly as it could have negative consequences in the long run.
“The item you bought is now also your Christmas gift because “I spent the money I would have gotten for the iPad now being spent on getting his and hers Blue Jays uniforms,” he said.
—with files from Anna Gaviola of Global News and The Canadian Press
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
