We were hesitant to try out the Outfield district tickets for last week’s Blue Jay’s Game. This is a relatively new option to purchase a $20 outfield ticket that has no reserved seat. The Roger’s Centre renovated some stadium spaces to create a cheaper option and to encourage family fun. With the outfield district ticket, you can meander around the stadium and hang out in different spaces.

If you have a small group and don’t mind getting to the game early, then this might work for you.

We entered the Roger’s Centre at 5pm for a 7pm game. We found seats at the Canada Dry bleachers and luckily there was still room for the rest of our party when they arrived later. We enjoyed it so much we didn’t  explore the other spaces;).

What we liked about sitting in the Outfield bleachers:

• The atmosphere! Everyone sitting in the bleachers was there to socialize and have fun! We chatted with our new neighbours while we waited for the game to begin. It was also kid-friendly!
• The bleachers are directly behind the visitor’s pitching bullpen so they tossed balls into the crowd after each warm-up.
• We had a full view of the game.
• We were in the 100 levels behind left field. If we had purchased tickets we would probably have been in the 500-level seats.
• Despite sitting on a bleacher, we could shift around easily without disturbing others and there was enough leg room between bleachers to move past others. This helped out our 50+ bones!
• There were freebies! Everyone in the bleachers section received a blue jays tshirt sponsored by Canada Dry, and a coupon for 12 x 355 cans of ginger ale. We felt like we got our $20 worth!
• We were close to concessions and washrooms!

Here’s how we managed to enjoy the day without breaking the bank:

Transportation

We took the GO Train down and back. The Barrie line now comes and goes multiple times a day. For $61 we had transport to and from Toronto, no parking costs or traffic delays. We took the 1:17pm train down to Union station and returned on the 10pm train.

This costs the same as the two of us driving and parking without the hassle of dealing with traffic or finding a parking spot. It’s a 1.5 h trip, which is a little less time than driving from our home. We felt it was a stress-free way to arrive in downtown Toronto.

The option to travel home on the same day meant that we did not need to book a hotel. Downtown hotel rates on game day charge $700 a night!

Food

The high cost of concession stand food on cardboard plates no longer appeals to us. Instead of eating in the Roger’s Centre, we chose to enjoy a sit-down dinner in a pub a short distance from the stadium.

The Town Crier has a comfy and welcoming atmosphere. We enjoyed a tasty and satisfying meal with a glass of Murphys. Since we ate at an earlier time, the place was quiet and the servers were attentive. There is also outdoor seating available. We had a quality meal and drinks for less than if we had eaten at the game.

Tickets

I would definitely use the Outfield district ticket option again. We paid $20 each to enter and we felt we experienced the atmosphere of a great game. Being in the 100s level was a first for me. Normally, we would pay for 500 level seats to see the Jay’s. 

A Level 500 seat cost $70. A reserved seat is convenient, but being in the top level of the stadium removes you from a lot of the action. We had to stay alert in the bleachers because several balls were tossed into our section before and during the game, mostly from the visitors’ bullpen.

We enjoyed our visit with our friends and it was an exciting game. There were home runs, environmental protestors on the field and a moment of fame as we were briefly on the jumbotron! And the best part of the game? The Jay’s won 9-2!

We often say we are going to enjoy more Toronto activities and I’m glad we did. We enjoyed our day trip to Toronto and we’re able to experience a great meal, and an entertaining evening with friends without a large credit card bill.

Would you consider using the outfield district ticket option? Would it be a good fit for you?