It was an eventful July for the Pixel Dreams team.We’d just returned from the summer getaway, the heat wave was beginning to wane, and teammates from around the world had come to visit our Toronto HQ. While they were in town, we showed them the sights: a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, dinner in Yorkville, road trip to Niagara Falls, and even a 45-minute trip to travel 5 stops on the TTC (our guests got the full Toronto experience).
Their curiosity, however, soon landed on an unmissable landmark. They knew the CN Tower, but wondered what happens in the stadium next to it. Our beloved Toronto Blue Jays were having one of the best seasons in all of Major League Baseball. Seeing a game in person revealed itself as the perfect way to complete their Canada trip.
Heading to First
Everyone remembers their first Blue Jays game. The roar of the crowd, the smell of buttery popcorn, and the sea of people from all walks of life wearing blue and white. Our mission was to give our visiting international colleagues the quintessential introduction to Blue Jays baseball.
“I played two games of baseball in my life, so I thought it’d be fun to see professionals playing it,” said Jules AKA Heart, our Vietnam Team Lead, when asked about the game. “Plus, my Airbnb is across the street, so it was easy”.
The meeting point was Gate Five at Rogers Centre, chosen for its view of Ripley’s Aquarium, the CN Tower, and a man drumming on an upturned bucket while chanting “Let’s go Blue Jays!”
It turned out this was not only our visitors’ first Jays game, but also the first for a few local PDT members. The stakes had just climbed. Upon entering the stadium and experiencing the grandeur of a Major League Baseball stadium for the first time, the reaction on our guests’ faces was pure joy, like Tết had come early. “It was more organized than I thought it would be,” Jules expressed, which makes one wonder how crazy Vietnamese events must be.
We began at the 100-level for the national anthem, where about half the group sang along. Then we made our way to the 500-level for the main event.
Rounding Second
The Blue Jays were facing the Kansas City Royals, and the spotlight was on the shortstops. Bo Bichette was riding a hot streak, while Bobby Witt Jr. was proving himself as Kansas City’s rising star. “The context was great,” said Jules, “it was a great opportunity for Mitch and Peter to mansplain the game”.
The beauty of live baseball is that it offers something for everyone: cold drinks for those who want to relax, high-level play for fans of the sport, and the Jumbotron for those interested in rating player attractiveness (outfielder Joey Loperfido won that contest in a landslide.)
As the ninth inning arrived, the stadium lights dimmed, music surged, and closing pitcher Jeff Hoffman took the mound. All eyes were on the action as Hoffman delivered. Three up, three down. The Blue Jays won. The crowd erupted, and our team celebrated the perfect ending to a momentous occasion.
Flying by Third
The night didn’t end at the stadium. After browsing the gift shop (and yelling “$70 for a bobble head?”), we accepted Daniel AKA Liberty’s invitation to Festival Tower to shoot some pool. On the short walk we reflected on the day, shared photos, and reaffirmed Joey Loperfido’s title as the most datable Jay.
At the pool tables, Blue Jays’ energy seemed to carry over. Even those who had never played caught the competitive spirit. The top talents of the night were Vi AKA Vivid, and a hustler who prefers to remain anonymous (Mark AKA Quest). Laughter, a few drinks, and hugs wrapped up the evening.
Going Home
Designer Vi AKA Vivid is a Toronto-based PDT member originally from Vietnam. “When I first came to Canada, I was really impressed by Toronto Blue Jays games,” said Vi, when asked about her enthusiasm for the outing. “Back in Vietnam, fans would make their own noise with drums, and pots & pans. It isn’t very organized. But ‘Make Some Noise’ and ‘Let’s Go Blue Jays’ from the stadium speakers are great. Everyone is feeling the same thing in the same moment. It felt very Canadian, and I wanted our visitors to feel the same thing.”
As I write this, our international teammates are preparing to fly home. Our game day became a perfect reflection of their trip: new experiences, variety for every taste, and moments no one wanted to end.
Also, Go Jays.
