Bars and restaurants in Toronto are gearing up for what could be one of the busiest Friday nights in more than three decades as the Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for a potential title-clinching World Series Game 6.
Mohan Arumugam, the owner and operator of Toby’s Pub and Eatery, says he and his team are ready to go.
His 170-seat bar at 411 College St. has 27 TVs and has been a popular spot for fans to take in games throughout the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason.
“It’s been crazy busy,” said Arumugam, who remembers the fun and excitement when the Jays won the World Series back in 1992 and 1993.
“Two generations missed this but now it’s their turn to enjoy the celebrations.”
Arumugam said over the past month he’s brought in extra beer, drinks, and food to accommodate the playoff rush, adding his staff have also taken on extra hours to meet that need.
To keep things flowing smoothly, he’s also slightly pared down the food menu.
“We don’t want customers to wait too long,” Arumugam said, reminding revellers to dress up on Friday night as they’re also holding a Halloween costume contest.
“I think the Jays are going to take it in six. … Now, all we are doing is waiting. Bring it on!”
‘We’re super organized’
Over at The Pint Public House, a 950-seat bar and restaurant at 277 Front St. W., owner and operating partner Cesar Mesen said it’s been “basically non-stop all day and all night” since the Jays clinched a spot in the playoffs on Sept. 21.
Mesen said his establishment, which has 100 televisions, is usually humming by 5 p.m. on game night with fans stopping by for dinner and drinks before heading over to the Rogers Centre.
Others, he said, stay to watch the game, while a third wave of customers typically comes by afterwards to celebrate if the Jays win or to drown their sorrows if they lose.
“Throughout the playoffs, as the Jays move forward, there’s more and more excitement,” said Mesen, adding tomorrow night will be no different.
He said reservations are already fully booked for Friday and Saturday nights, with some room for walk-ins.
“We’ve had some tough years so this is a really good reason for people to come together and celebrate. I love it,” he said.
Mesen said because they’re a larger venue The Pint Public House has a “blueprint” in place to keep things running smoothly.
“We’re super organized,” he said, adding fortunately they have a full roster of trained staff available to take on extra hours as needed during the postseason.
“We’re all huge fans of the Jays! We’re hoping for a (World Series) win in 6.”
‘It’s going to be a party’
Just a stone’s throw from the Rogers Centre, Steam Whistle Brewery says it is a place for Jays fans to get the full playoff experience without setting foot inside the ballpark.
Depending on the night, the brewpub has welcomed up to 4,000 patrons, activating various rooms and spaces, as needed.
Throughout the Jays postseason, Steam Whistle has hosted tailgate and watch parties with games being shown on dozens of TVs and large projectors throughout the space, including on a 16-by-nine-foot outdoor monitor.
“We’re such a unique venue. We’re so close to the Rogers Centre that you can actually hear the home run bell before seeing it on the screen,” Catherine Oppedisano, the company’s vice-president of marketing, told CP24 on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s been a real party. … We actually broke sales records during Games 1 and 2, on Friday and Saturday last week.”
She said Steam Whistle is also unique in that it’s a brewery so people who may not want to patronize the venue can grab some drinks and take in the festivities at Roundhouse Park, which some have dubbed The Bird’s Nest and is part of the City of Toronto’s alcohol-in-parks program.
Oppedisano said they’re “as ready as we can be” for Friday night’s Game 6, which is both a watch party and a Halloween costume party, having experienced large crowds and high volume in Games 1 and 2.
“The second Game 6 was confirmed, we put our plan in place,” she said, adding that, like many other venues, seasonal staff have been kept on to work during the MLB playoffs.
“This could possibly be the biggest night of the year for our venue. It’s going to be a party and we have the space for everyone.”
‘We’re staffed up and stocked up’
In Little Italy, legendary sports bar Café Diplomatico is excited to welcome Jays fans on Friday evening for Game 6.
“We’ve got our enclosed patio, our 12- by 10-foot video wall, TVs everywhere, and heaters,” said co-owner Rocco Mastangelo, adding if the Jays lose on Friday, they’ll do it all over again on Saturday, which also happens to be his birthday.
“We’re staffed up and stocked up, and we’ve got lots of kegs.”
Mastrangelo said they’ve had a great run during the MLB playoffs.
“It’s been fantastic. It’s been busy and we’ve had a good turnout,” he said, adding about 30 per cent of his roughly 200-seat establishment is open for walk-ins this weekend.
“The crowd’s been great and everybody’s having a good time. … We’re definitely a destination to come and watch games.”
Spending up during Jays’ home games
Commerce provider Moneris has been collecting restaurant spending data, both transaction volume and size, near the Rogers Centre and across Toronto during the last three Jays playoff home games.
The latest numbers show a surge during Game 7 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) as well as during Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, which were all played in Toronto.
During the ALCS Game 7 on Oct. 20, restaurants near the Rogers Centre saw a 29 per cent increase in transaction volume and a 17 per cent increase in transaction size, while eateries across the city saw nine per cent more transactions and eight per cent higher average spend per transaction.
For Game 1 on Oct. 24, transaction volume was up 27 per cent week-over-week near the Rogers Centre, with the average transaction size rising by 13 per cent. Citywide, the total amount spent at restaurants was up by 10 per cent as well as by five per cent for the average amount spent per transaction, showing that fans enjoyed the game even if they weren’t in the stadium.
Moneris data for Game 2, on Oct. 25, showed that the “spending momentum continued,” with restaurants near the Rogers Centre seeing a 20 per cent increase in volume and a 12 per cent rise in transaction size. Across the city, volume rose by two per cent and transaction size increased by four per cent for this game
“The ALCS finale was a clear boost to Toronto’s restaurant scene,” Sean McCormick, Moneris’ vice-president of business development, data services, said in a statement.
“When Toronto wins in the World Series, the city celebrates in a big way.”
He added that it’s clear that the MLB championship stage “inspires fans to savour the experience and spend a little more while doing it.”
