CLEVELAND -- Pirates team president Travis Williams confirmed Monday that the Pirates are having "active discussions" with the league and Blue Jays for the homeless Blue Jays to play their home games at PNC Park.
This comes one day after reports started to circulate that the Blue Jays were eyeing PNC Park as a potential home for the 2020 season since they cannot play in Toronto due to Canada's restrictions are the pandemic.
“In an effort to help in the return of the game we all love, we continue to have active discussions with Major League Baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays organization regarding the possibility of hosting home games for the Blue Jays at PNC Park this season," Williams said in a statement. "This will be a monumental challenge for our staff, but leaning in to help others is what Pittsburghers do best."
The Blue Jays are also considering to play their home games in Buffalo, NY, home of their Class AAA team, or its spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., though they would prefer to use an MLB facility.
The Pirates would obviously take priority at PNC Park, but there are only seven days where the Pirates and Blue Jays have a home game scheduled this season, so it might not be too difficult to pull off. The first of those games comes July 27.
“If we are able to safely accommodate, not only will it bring additional international attention to our city, it will also bring with it jobs and revenue for local hotels, restaurants and other businesses that will support the Blue Jays organization as well as additional visiting teams,” Williams said.
Under Canada’s Quarantine Act, any person entering Canada from the United States is subject to a 14-day quarantine. The city of Toronto has also prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people. The Blue Jays were awarded an exemption so they could hold their summer camp in Rogers Centre, but did not have it extended beyond that.
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