Major League Baseball is coming to Buffalo.
But good luck trying to get a player to sign a baseball card.
You'll have a hard time even catching a glimpse of any of the players.
You can't go to the games because of the state's coronavirus restrictions.
All the people coming with the Toronto Blue Jays and opposing teams – from players to staff – will be holed up in one of two downtown hotels when not at Sahlen Field.
They'll be shuttled back and forth by buses between the hotels and the ballpark and to chartered flights in and out of Buffalo.
All their meals will be catered by restaurants, which means you won't see them dining out in Buffalo.
"I think it's very important for the public to know that the players, the organization, will be in quarantine at one of the local hotels while they are here at their homestand," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, discussing the development that the Blue Jays will be using Sahlen Field as their home ballpark this strange pandemic season.
"And the same thing is for the visiting teams," Poloncarz added. "Charter flight. A bus that takes them directly to the hotel. They must stay in the hotel. They play the games and then they fly out."
Protocols were still being ironed out, Poloncarz said, and details will come from the Blue Jays and Major League Baseball.
Unlike in the NHL and NBA in which players are in bubble environments in specific cities, Major League Baseball protocols do not contain similar restrictions. The Blue Jays are recommending their players and staff stay in the hotel as much as possible.
At his daily briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he spoke to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on the topic Friday morning.
"We want people to stay home. I think giving them sports to watch on TV is actually a good thing, not a bad thing," Cuomo said. "Working with the Department of Health, I think we can come up with protocols that keep people safe, and we’ve done that. If we can get Toronto playing here, I say great. We have the protocols in place. It will be done safely.
"But the horse is out of the barn on this one: Major League Baseball is going to play," Cuomo said. "They’re going to play all across the nation, fanless. If it’s going to happen, I’d rather it happen here. It’s good for Buffalo."
Covid-19 testing of players and staff will be handled by Major League Baseball – not the Erie County Health Department, Poloncarz said.
"So this is not going to take testing slots away from our general public. It's all being done under the protocols agreed upon by the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball," Poloncarz said.
Strict health protocols are in place at all MLB games this season and local officials are confident that will keep players, staff and the community safe when the Blue Jays and opponents are in town.
"Our Covid numbers are doing quite well," said Mayor Byron Brown. "We have very strong health protocols in place in the City of Buffalo. We feel very comfortable with the Blue Jays and Major League Baseball coming."
While fans won't be able to go the games, there will be an economic benefit for the community.
"There's at least two hotels that will be completely booked with the Blue Jays, as well as opposing team players," Poloncarz said. "There are restaurants that will benefit because they have to provide catered food to the Blue Jays and the opposing teams."
Brown said the arrangement should give a boost to the hospitality industry.
"It will help hospitality businesses in Buffalo - hotels, restaurants and others - and bring national and international attention to the City of Buffalo," the mayor said.
Also, Poloncarz said, the cost of upgrades at Sahlen Field will be covered by the Blue Jays.
"No costs are going to be borne by the County of Erie, the City of Buffalo or the State of New York," Poloncarz said. "All costs are being borne by Major League Baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays."
That includes lighting at the ballpark.
Fans interviewed on Chippewa Street Friday welcomed the news the Blue Jays will be playing games in Buffalo.
"I feel good about that for the city and good that we have something going on like that here," said Buffalo native Ronnie Williams, 62, who calls the Blue Jays his favorite team.
Rachel DeDomenico, president of the Chippewa Alliance, said her husband is a "huge" Blue Jays fan.
The Alliance serves the Chippewa Street business and residential community by advocating for area beautification, security improvements, economic empowerment and cooperation among neighborhood stakeholders.
DeDomenico said that the restaurants along Chippewa could benefit from the Blue Jays while they're in Buffalo.
"We're hoping that in some way or another that it does help the economy," she said.
A major league team coming to Buffalo is exciting, said Chris Ring, owner of Rec Room on Chippewa Street.
"It's going to be, I think, a cool experience for the city to have that kind of national attention on a national media scale," Ring said. "It's amazing. It's just tough that it comes at a time where you can't go to the games and enjoy them, but take what you can get, right?"
"We have a natural connection with this team," Poloncarz said. "They are a parent club. We have a lot of Toronto Blue Jays fans in the Buffalo area. And we can do it safely. So in the end, I think this was a good decision for our community for professional baseball," he said.
"Fans are not gonna be able to attend the games, so it's not like we're going to be able to go down there and watch the games," he said. "But there's some pride in knowing that the players that we watched grow up and go through the Buffalo Bisons organization like Vladimir Guerrero, and Bo Bichette, and others are now going to come back and play major league ball in Buffalo."
