This year, a Vancouver couple is opting for a unique Thanksgiving experience. Instead of the usual elaborate feast, Helen Vlahos and Wolf Schneider will enjoy a takeaway turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce while eagerly anticipating a Blue Jays baseball game. The couple, who had been in Toronto for a family event, emphasized the significance of the game over a traditional holiday dinner.
The Toronto Blue Jays are set to compete in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, marking their first time reaching this stage since 2016. With Game two scheduled for Monday, many fans are adjusting their Thanksgiving plans to accommodate the games.
Vlahos and Schneider plan to return to Vancouver just in time to settle in and watch the game from the comfort of their couch. Despite their original intention to keep the holiday festivities low-key, Schneider noted that their day would have revolved around the game even if they had planned a larger celebration.
Before heading home, the couple made a quick stop at the Blue Jays’ official merchandise store in downtown Toronto to pick up their Schneider jerseys, fulfilling a promise they had made in anticipation of the team’s success.
The ALCS series will shift to Seattle for Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Thursday, with the possibility of a fifth game on Friday. Subsequent games would be held in Toronto on October 19 and 20 if needed, with the ALCS winner advancing to the World Series. Fans across the country are rallying behind the Blue Jays this postseason, some even prioritizing game attendance over traditional Thanksgiving gatherings.
Kohlman Zarowny and his son, Kai, have traveled from Lloydminster, Alta., for a father-son outing centered around the Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. The pair has replaced their usual holiday traditions with sports-related activities, including a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
A recent survey by Rogers revealed that nearly half of Canadians would choose attending a Blue Jays game over a Thanksgiving dinner. Among Gen Xers, 52 percent expressed a preference for the game over a traditional meal. The survey, conducted online between October 6-8, highlighted the widespread enthusiasm for the team’s playoff run.
For Nicole La Fleche of Sudbury, Ont., watching the baseball game is a cherished bonding activity with her father. The holiday will be business as usual for them, with the game likely playing in the background as they enjoy their Thanksgiving meal together.
