Toronto Blue Jays to Buffalo: “A good shot in the arm"

The Toronto Blue Jays heading to Buffalo to play the 2020 season is thought to be a “good shot in the arm” for the City of Good Neighbors.

Visit Buffalo Niagara CEO and President Patrick Kaler said the region will see both immediate and long-term economic impacts.

ARRIVAL IN BUFFALO ISEXPECTED TO BE ASHOT IN THE ARM FORTHE LOCAL ECONOMY.AND IT CAN ALSO PUTBUFFALO IN THENATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.NIKKI DEMENTRICONTINUES OUR TEAMCOVERAGE WITH ALOOK AT THE BOOSTTHIS COULD BRINGTHE CITY.ASHLEYWE'VE BEENTALKING ABOUT THEPOSSIBILITY OF THISHAPPENING FORWEEKS.NOW THATTHE JAYS HAVE MADEIT OFFICIAL THEREWILL BE IMMEDIATEBOOSTS TO THELOCAL ECONOMY WESEE ESPECIALLY INHOSPITALITY, BUTLONG TERMTHERE'S HOPE THATTHIS COULD BE AGAME CHANGER."IT'S AMERICA'SPASTIME AND BUFFALOIS THE ALL AMERICANCITY."AND SAHLEN FIELD ISNOW HOME TO THETORONTO BLUEJAYS.AT LEAST FORTHE NEXT FEWMONTHS."I'M PRETTY EXCITEDABOUT IT.

I THINK IT'SGOING TO BE A GOODMOVE, A GOOD STEPAND IT'S GOING TOHELP PUT OUR CITYON THE MAP."WHETHER A BASEBALLFAN OR NOT, THEECONOMIC IMPACT IS ASELLING POINT."AS FAR AS ECONOMYWISE, I FEEL LIKE WECAME A LONG WAYFROM WHAT WE USEDTO BE."VISIT BUFFALONIAGARA CEO ANDPRESIDENT PATRICKKALER SAYS IT MAY BETOO EARLY TOESTIMATE JUST HOWMANY JOBS COULD BECREATED ANDBROUGHT BACK."I THINK IT'S A GOODSHOT IN THE ARM FORBUFFALO TO HAVESOME GOOD NEWSDURING THEPANDEMIC."COVID-19 WIPED OUTMORE THAN HALF OFALL HOSPITALITY JOBSIN THE REGION.BUT HOTEL STAYSFROM BOTH BLUEJAYS AND VISITINGPLAYERS WILL BRINGSOME OF THOSE JOBSBACK."THIS WILL BE REALLYGOOD FOR HTOSEPROPERTIES WHOWILL BE ABLE TOBRING BACK SOME OFTHEIR EMPLOYEESFROM THE FRONTDESK WORKERS TOMAINTENANCEWORKERS, THEHOUSEKEEPINGSTAFF, PROBABLYSOME RESTAURANTWORKERS AS WELL."AND KALER SAYS THEIMPACT IS NOT JUSTIMMEDIATE."N: BUFFALO IS GOITO BE ON THE MAINSTAGE FORBROADCASTS HERE,WHAT POSSIBLEBENEFITS DO WE HAVETO SHOWCASING OURBEAUTIFUL CITY TOTHE REST OF THECOUNTRY AND THEWORLD?P: THERE ARE ALWAYSCUTAWAYS TO THECITY.AND SO TOHAVE THATOPPORTUNITY WILL BEREALLY GREAT WITHTHE MARKETS THATTHE GAMES WILL BESHOWN IN."KALER HOPESBROADCASTS WILLATTRACT VIEWERSFROM PLACES LIKENEW YORK CITY ANDCANADA.VISIT BUFFALONIAGARA ESTIMATESUP TO 47% OFTOURISM COMESFROM TORONTO ANDSOUTHERN ONTARIO."EVEN WHILE THEBORDER IS CLOSED,AT LEAST TIHS WILLKEEP US TOP OFMIND."AND THERE ISALREADY SOMEBUFFALO BLUE JAYSMERCHANDISESTARTING TO POPUP....26 SHIRTS HASANNOUNCED NEWDESIGNS TO SUPPORTTHE TEAM HEADINGHERE TO BUFFALO.ND, 7EWN.