Toronto Blue Jays: Perfect Storm Brewing For Attendance Record?

On April 17, 1979, the Toronto Blue Jays—who, that year, would go on to set the franchise record for futility by losing 109 games—were 4-6. As were the Chicago White Sox, though they went on to finish the season at a slightly less miserable 73-89. Chicago won 6-1.

This meaningless game is only remembered for one reason: it was the worst attended game in Blue Jays history. A mere 10,074 people turned up, filling old Exhibition Stadium to not even a quarter of its reported capacity of 43,737. It may have snowed, it was certainly cold, and there was no roof.

Times have of course changed: the Jays now play out of the oft-domed Rogers Centre, which was once (for the MLB All-Star Game in 1991) rammed with 52,383 people; and while this year's team isn't expected to do much in the way of making history, it's very hard to imagine them coming close to 79's atrocious loss record.

And yet, should just the right factors combine, tonight's game versus the Detroit Tigers may have it's own chance to live in infamy:

1) It’s the night after opening night, which is always among the worst-attended of the year: 50,000 people “just went last night”.

2) It’s Tuesday, the worst-performing weekday/night (which explains “cheap night” at the movies, and why Jays games, KFC etc. even have “Twonie Tuesdays” in the first place).

3) It’s a game where they can’t sell beer, as punishment for more liquor license infractions during, among other events, Twonie Tuesdays. And not just in the 500-level—this time, it's the whole stadium.

4) If you have tickets for this game, and would rather not go if you can’t drink beer, you’re allowed to exchange them for an event where you can.

5a) Fewer pay-one-price season passes seem to have been available this year, and the "plump up the numbers with the 500s strategy" has been partially replaced by the "Messin' with Recession" promotion. While this lowers ticket and concession prices for a few games here and there, the usual suspects probably won't be back tonight...

5b) ...and neither will the non pass-holders, as it’s not even Twonie Tuesday anymore. Two hundred-level outfield, family zone and all 500-level seats are $5 tonight; a saving from the usual $9-plus-service-charge ($11) entry, granted, but not nearly as promotable.

6) The opponent: the underwhelming Detroit Tigers, who don't even classify as a regional rival now that we delude ourselves into thinking we're competition to the Yankees and Red Sox.

7) Current weather: Cloudy and 0 degrees Celsius, with an expected windchill factor of -7 by the end of the game and the 'Dome's air-conditioning turned on regardless.

And hey, if it doesn't come to pass, well, there's always that other record...