Blue Jays to Expand Seating in Buffalo

The Blue Jays announced expanded fan seating at Sahlen Field in Buffalo using vaccinated seating sections

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

More fans can attend Blue Jays games starting in June.

The Blue Jays announced Tuesday the club is expanding seating capacity at Sahlen Field in Buffalo due to New York State rule changes. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week vaccinated individuals could sit together at sporting events and in stadiums, allowing for the Blue Jays to designate "vaccinated seating sections."

Blue Jays expanding capacity at Sahlen Field through vaccinated seating sections after New York State changed of rules around large-scale outdoor gatherings last week. Ticket sales pushed back a week while they work through new plan ... pic.twitter.com/Vi7Myvfszg

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) May 11, 2021

The club had initially planned on socially distanced seating making up 24% of Sahlen's capacity — 4,200 seats — but have yet to announce what the new capacity percentage will be. Ticket purchasing, which was slated to start this week, has been pushed back a week while details of the capacity expansion are finalized. According to the Buffalo News, Sahlen Field (like all New York sports stadiums) could, in theory, be filled if all attendees prove they are fully vaccinated.

The Blue Jays are relocating their home park from Dunedin, Florida to Buffalo, New York starting on June 1. Toronto begins their final Dunedin homestand on May 14, facing the Phillies, Red Sox, and Rays at TD Ballpark. The Blue Jays will then relocate to Buffalo during a six-game road trip in New York and Cleveland before facing off against the Marlins at Sahlen in June.

Last year, playing much of the season in Buffalo, the Blue Jays posted a 17-9 record at home and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

The Blue Jays led the league in runs per game at home (6.1) and posted a .345 on base percentage at Sahlen Field in 2020. The stadium, which usually houses Toronto's AAA affiliate, was criticized by some opposing players and staff, including Marlins manager Don Mattingly.

"It played really small to left and really big to right," Mattingly said. "If the wind is blowing out at all, this is gonna be some kind of bandbox."