The Toronto Blue Jays made a rare decision on Monday, postponing a game at the Rogers Centre after the venue’s roof was damaged by falling ice.
Postponements and cancellations of games at domed or retractable-roof ballparks are rare, but that is what happened in Toronto on Monday. Falling ice from the adjacent CN Tower was the source of hazard in the area surrounding the ballpark, and it ultimately punctured a hole in the roof of the Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays were to have faced the Royals on Monday night. Given the extent of the damage, however, the club opted to postpone the game and schedule a doubleheader for Tuesday afternoon. More from The Canadian Press and National Post:
Chunks of ice crashing down from the CN Tower following a weekend of freezing rain forced the closure of the Toronto landmark and poked a hole in the Rogers Centre roof in the area of right field.
Police had blocked off the area directly under the CN Tower and the east side of the Rogers Centre because of the “relatively large” blocks of ice tumbling down onto the streets and sidewalks below.
“Fortunately there’s been no injuries reported,” said Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook.
This marked the first time since 2001 that a game was postponed at Rogers Centre. In that scenario, the Blue Jays postponed an April 12 game at the ballpark (then known as the SkyDome) after a mechanical test resulted in damage to panels on the retractable roof. Tuesday will mark the first doubleheader played at Rogers Centre since 1989. The Blue Jays began the 1989 season at the open-air Exhibition Stadium before debuting at their new retractable-roof ballpark on June 5, so the July 17 doubleheader against the California Angels provided a makeup for a rain out at Exhibition Stadium on May 7.
In a broader sense, the postponement at Rogers Centre is the latest story in a young season that has seen teams around the major and minors affected by harsh weather conditions. For instance, Tuesday will also see the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A; Midwest League) begin a three-game home series at Peoria’s Dozer Park, a move made necessary after heavy snowfall left Neuroscience Group Field in Appleton unplayable.