Blue Jays fans take in opening playoff game

Even after a loss in the first game, Blue Jays fans in Regina are reveling in the experience of watching a playoff series.

The Great Canadian Brewhouse was a sea of blue in the middle of the afternoon on Thursday.

“It’s super exciting, it’s been 22 years, I remember watching them in the early 90’s so I’ve been waiting a long time for this and it’s really fun,” commented Andy Tate, as he kept an eye on one of many big screens.

“I welcome the band-wagon jumpers, you know, the more fans the Jays have, the more energy and enthusiasm there’s going to be and it’s going to help them hopefully go all the way to the world series,” he said.

The place was packed at 2 p.m., with several tables of people waving away the microphone admitting they were skipping work to watch the game.

“I’m guess there’s a healthy proportion – I’m not skipping work, I’m taking time off, but however they got here, welcome,” Tate said laughing.

Byron Gaetz says it is going to be very tough to beat Texas in the series, but he’s hoping for the best. As a long-time baseball fan, he is not sure what to think about the people jumping on the bandwagon. But he can understand that people in Regina might be willing to trade Rider green for Blue Jays blue.

“With the way the Riders have been playing, right now blue is the new green,” he said.

Grant Mitchell remembers the last time the Jays won the World Series, and he is hopeful this could be a repeat.

“I was watching at that time and I’m more excited now than I was back then even.”