Blue Jays' success brings cash infusion to local businesses

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 8, 2015
By Chris Traber and Lisa Queen

The Toronto Blue Jays’ success on the field, with their post-season drive for the World Series beginning Thursday, is translating into a financial home run for York Region businesses.

The American League East champion Jays’ bandwagon is crowded as they prepare for their first postseason run in 22 years.

The late July blockbuster acquisitions of pitcher David Price from the Detroit Tigers and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies added fuel to the fan frenzy.

The Blue Jays mean green days for local bars and sports merchandise stores.

Don Preston has owned All Star Sports in Newmarket for more than two decades. The Jays driving in runs all season long has driven more customers to his eclectic sports memorabilia and merchandise enterprise.

“It has definitely meant a large increase in our sales,” he said.

“Normally, we’d be winding down with Blue Jays gear at this time of the year because they’re usually out of the picture, but we’re selling about 10 times more Jays items than normal. It’s the bulk of the business right now.”

His hot sellers are team jerseys, with Josh Donaldson’s being the most popular.

“We’re selling a lot of Toronto T-shirts and headgear and people are beginning to pick up flags and banners,” Preston said. “If the Jays go deep into the playoffs, sales will be exponential, I’m sure.”

When Toronto’s pro sports teams win, so do peripheral businesses, he said.

“Everyone wants to show their support,” Preston said. “Even people who aren’t big sports fans are jumping in to be part of the excitement.”

Part of the upside is attracting new customers and exposing them to the ranging merchandise his store offers, he said, noting there’s renewed interest in baseball trading cards.

“There’s demand for Blue Jays team sets and in the teams from the 1990s when they were last in the playoffs.”

“It’s unbelievable,” Pro Wear Sports owner Joe Bauto said of the major league sales spike at his Stouffville shop. “Ever since the big trades for Price and Tulowitzki and with the team winning, the whole town has Blue Jays fever.”

After his MVP-calibre season, third baseman Donaldson’s #20 Jays jersey is the most popular buy, Bauto said. Also ranking high in demand are jerseys with the newcomers’ names and just about anything with the Blue Jays logo, particularly adjustable team hats.

Authentic Jays jerseys at $270 a pop are out of stock, Bauto said. Licensed replica uniform tops at $160 are on constant re-order.

“It’s tough to keep up,” he said of the sportswear from Majestic and NewEra. “It’s the same for the entire industry. If the Jays win the World Series, people will go crazy.”

A veteran sportswear retailer, Bauto set up shop in Stouffville three years ago. He’s witnessed similar rushes for sports team paraphernalia.

“It’s crazy when the (Toronto Maple) Leafs make the playoffs, but the run on Jays gear is unreal,” he said.

York Region bars and restaurants have been drawing crowds since the Jays got hot and things will only get better as the team begins its post-season play.

Blue Jays banter is the main topic of conversation these days at Offsides Sports Bar and Grill in Keswick, manager Ali Sabbaghi said.

“Everybody’s excited; everybody’s happy. They can’t wait for the Blue Jays to go to the World Series,” he said.

“It’s a good vibe. It brings more people out, for sure, to watch the game.”

Is Sabbaghi a Blue Jays fan?

“I am now,” he said with a laugh.

Tom and Jerry’s Bistro, with locations in Keswick, Newmarket, Aurora and Richmond Hill, is usually the type of place for regulars.

These days, the regulars are bringing friends to the restaurants to watch the Blue Jays in a friendly venue where everyone knows everyone, Newmarket manager Kaela MacDonald said.

“It (the Jays’ winning season) totally makes a difference because people want to come out and watch the game with other people and it makes it exciting,” she said.

“It’s a great atmosphere. It’s packed. It’s nice to be out and not have to be at home and just watch it by yourself.”

However, York Regional Police reminds fans to make sure they strike out drinking and driving from their celebrations.

“We would encourage all citizens if they are going to be drinking, regardless of what they are going out drinking for, to be safe and to plan accordingly,” Const. Laura Nicolle said.

“So, if you know you’re going to have a few drinks at an event, plan ahead for a safe ride home. These types of collisions that are impaired-related are completely preventable by taking those steps ahead of time to plan for safe transportation. We will be out enforcing rules of the road, including RIDE spot checks, checking for sobriety of drivers.”

If you see a suspected drunk driver, you can call 911 on your cell phone without the penalties normally imposed on distracted drivers, Nicolle said.