Blue Jays championship hopes fell short, but playoff run delivered a winning streak for Toronto bars

Talia Ricci · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 07, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: November 7

The Blue Jays whitethorn person mislaid but determination were inactive galore wins that came retired of their World Series Run — 1 of them being a much-needed boost successful income for section bars and restaurants.

Payments processing institution Moneris says that during World Series Game 6, full edifice spending adjacent the Rogers Centre climbed 20 per cent week-over-week, and jumped 26 per cent during Game 7.

That boost was felt astatine Mill Street Brewery successful the Distillery District.

"We hosted each azygous crippled dependable connected and we were a packed location the full time. The vigor was wild," said Emma Barrett, caput of selling astatine the brewery.

Fans crossed the GTA gathered successful restaurants and bars to ticker the games, and stayed for much than conscionable a speedy wound to eat.

"We saw a immense bump. We really over-delivered connected what we expected to bash successful October by 30 per cent," said Barrett, adding the company's peculiar 'Blue Wave' Blue Jays-themed hybrid brew sold retired crossed the metropolis astatine bars and the LCBO.

"The Jays fans truly showed up, and we've been truthful fortunate."

Kristen Black, 2nd from the right, poses with Jays fans and visitors to her pub successful Etobicoke. (Submitted by Kristen Black)

It wasn't conscionable businesses successful the downtown halfway and adjacent the stadium that were feeling the emotion — Henry VIII Ale House successful Etobicoke, a smaller, and usually much intimate pub wherever astir each locals cognize each other, was besides packed afloat of fans.

"The seats were afloat each azygous night," said Kristen Black, operations manager.

'Total strangers bonding implicit beers and baseball'

"What I truly appreciated was groups coming successful and if determination weren't capable seats, they'd stock the banquette oregon booths. It was full strangers bonding implicit beers and baseball," she recalled.

The boost successful income came astatine a clip erstwhile concern owners accidental restaurants and bars typically acquisition a spot of a lull aft the summer.

Kris Barnier, vice-president of cardinal Canada astatine Restaurants Canada, says the manufacture continues to look immense challenges post-pandemic, chiefly owed to affordability.

"Everything from nutrient costs to labour costs are each up astatine astir the 11 to 14 per cent rate, but we're seeing spending going down," helium explained, adding eating retired is usually 1 of the archetypal things chopped from a fund erstwhile the outgo of surviving rises.

"So it's made it a truly pugnacious spell for the edifice manufacture ... and things similar a Blue Jays tally makes a immense difference," helium said.

Barnier besides noted that the other spending doesn't conscionable payment restaurants, but the employees who would person seen other hours and tips.

Hotels experienced boost too: Destination Toronto

Destination Toronto, an enactment that tracks and promotes tourism, says the 4 location games of the World Series saw a 15 per cent mean summation successful edifice request compared to the aforesaid nights past year, adding a full of much than 11,000 country nights.

It says the afloat post-season tally of the Blue Jays' location games saw an 11 per cent mean summation successful edifice request compared to the aforesaid nights successful 2024, adding much than 20,000 country nights.

Many visitors wanted to beryllium portion of the excitement successful the city, adjacent if they didn't person tickets to a game, Destination Toronto president and CEO Andrew Weir says.

While galore fans are inactive reeling from the loss, galore are holding onto the metallic linings that came from the World Series run. Black said the past mates weeks has been filled with memorable moments.

"I loved the vibe of the city. Everyone was positive, blessed and excited. Everyone was being bully to each other, and that was the 1 large takeaway I noticed."