Jays-Mariners playoff in Seattle could test resolve of B.C. fans avoiding the U.S.
Posted October 10, 2025 7:17 am.
Metro Vancouver baseball fans are waiting to see who the Toronto Blue Jays will be playing for the American League Championship, and whether some of those games will be played just down the I-5 Highway in Seattle.
A Jays-Mariners series typically draws a big contingent of Canadian fans to T-Mobile Park, but these are not typical times.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!The political climate in the U.S., along with increased scrutiny at the border, has some fans who had been avoiding U.S. travel wrestling with the prospect of crossing into America to see a game.
Some local Mariners fans have already been attending the team’s divisional playoff games, including Jason Manning of Jack 96.9 Vancouver.
“I went down to Game 1 and Game 2, I have a NEXUS card, I wasn’t going to miss this,” said Manning, a longtime supporter.
“I needed to see the Mariners in the playoffs, and they won their first game in 24 years in a playoff scenario last weekend.”
But the trip didn’t come without some internal debate.
“I was unwilling to give up on the opportunity to go see playoff baseball. I was willing to accept what could happen at the border, knowing they could maybe search my phone, ask me some other questions, take me into secondary inspection, whatever they decide to do, because it’s at their whim.”
Manning says he was confident he would have little trouble crossing with his NEXUS card — which allows expedited, pre-screened entry — but he understands why some people might have second thoughts.
“I think there are going to be a lot of people like myself, who thought long and hard about going. I made the decision that I would go down for a quick weekend and go see some games.”
After defeating the New York Yankees, the Blue Jays are set to play the winner of the AL division series between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers, which will be decided in Game 5 Friday night.
The ALCS opener will be hosted by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, with Game 2 set for Monday in Toronto.
The series then moves to Seattle or Detroit next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, if needed.
Games 6 and 7 would be in Toronto on Oct. 19 and 20.
