Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is making adjustments to accommodate Toronto Blue Jays fans during the World Series while still supporting their NHL and NBA teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors have rescheduled their upcoming games to allow sports enthusiasts the opportunity to watch the Blue Jays face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the Major League Baseball championship.
MLSE’s President and CEO, Keith Pelley, expressed pride in uniting the city’s teams to enable fans to witness a significant moment in Toronto and Canada’s history. Rogers Centre will host Game 1 and Game 2 of the MLB championship series on Friday and Saturday, with both games scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
In response to the World Series excitement, the Raptors have adjusted the start time of their home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday to 6:30 p.m. ET from the original 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have moved up the puck drop for their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday to 5 p.m. ET from the initial 7 p.m. slot.
Further schedule modifications include the Maple Leafs’ game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. ET, and the Raptors hosting the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Pelley acknowledged the coordination efforts required by multiple stakeholders, including the leagues, coaches, players, and broadcasters involved, to facilitate these game time changes and provide a special experience for Toronto fans supporting the Blue Jays.
Additionally, both the Maple Leafs and Raptors will screen the World Series games on the Scotiabank Arena videoboard post their own matches, enhancing the fan experience. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ final regular-season game against the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday at 7 p.m. will also offer in-stadium updates and live coverage of the World Series opener, with the full broadcast shown on the main videoboard post-game.