The Jays Effect: Blue Jays World Series Appearance A Home Run for Toronto Tourism

First it was the Swiftie effect. Now, even without a World Series title, Toronto experienced more than just a surge in baseball pride, it enjoyed another tourism boost thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays.

According to Destination Toronto, the first two home games of the World Series on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25, 2025, saw an 18 per cent increase in hotel demand over the same nights as last year, adding more than 7,000 room nights total.

Premium rooms near the Rogers Centre, particularly those overlooking the stadium were running at $4,000 CAD per night during home games.

The Greater Toronto Hotel Association compared the spike in demand to other major events like the NHL All-Star Weekend, citing the World Series as one of the most significant tourism catalysts the city has seen in years.

In a Canadian Press report, Sara Anghel, CEO of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, said the Jays’ playoffs will likely have a “ripple effect” on the hospitality industry. She pointed to the impact of last year’s NHL All-Star Weekend, which boosted Toronto’s downtown hotel demand by 35 per cent over the previous year.

It’s not just hotels, airlines and restaurants are also benefitting from the Jays World Series’ run. In a statement to Travel Market Report Canada, Porter Airlines which flies into Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto, said they are seeing an increase in traffic for this weekend from Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, New York and Boston, which may be attributed to the World Series.  

The city organized free public viewing parties at major downtown locations (e.g., Nathan Phillips Square) so even those without tickets participate, which boosts foot traffic and ancillary spending at establishments in the areas. According to CityNews Toronto, restaurants in the stadium area have gotten a 100 per cent boost in sales.

It’s a much-needed boost to restaurants, many of whom are still feeling the effects of COVID pandemic.

It’s too early of course to have final numbers on the full impact of the Jays Effect just yet, but one thing is clear, the Toronto Blue Jays have put a global spotlight on Toronto giving the city invaluable exposure and reinforcing its position as a world-class sports and entertainment hub.