Latest news with #Gardiner
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Riding the hype': Fans paying a premium to see first-place Toronto Blue Jays
TORONTO – Heather Gardiner couldn't give her seats away. The Blue Jays owned a record under .500 back in the spring, and looked poised for another middling campaign with little playoff hope. Things then drastically turned around on the field. Toronto now sits first in the American League East. And tickets are a hot commodity — often at a hefty price. Getting into Rogers Centre to see Canada's only Major League Baseball team has quickly morphed into a costly endeavour this summer that has surprised some fans. A recent sold-out series against the New York Yankees saw the cheapest seats on resale sites going for more than $200 apiece, while a ticket in the 500 level for Friday's series-opener with the Kansas City Royals was in the neighbourhood of $80 as of Wednesday afternoon — more than double face value. Gardiner and her family have two season tickets near the visitors dugout. The tech consultant, who's had seats since Toronto's 2015 playoff run, sold most of her extras at cost to friends last season. After the Jays' underwhelming start to 2025, interest dropped to near zero. 'We were posting on social media three days before a game saying, 'We can't make it and if you want the tickets let me know and they're yours,'' Gardiner said. 'They were free and people weren't taking them.' Toronto's surge up the standings signalled a drastic shift across the ticket market. Fans can make purchases directly from the team through Ticketmaster, while the website also has verified resale options — usually at an inflated price — similar to other big-hitters like SeatGeek and StubHub when supply is scarce. Jagger Long, who runs Toronto-based resale website Karma Tickets, said a number of factors, including summer holidays, tourism and a winning team are contributing to the spikes. 'We're riding the hype of the Jays,' he said. 'People are spending the money. If they weren't, the prices would come down.' A multi-million dollar renovation of Rogers Centre that improved sightlines, added more bars, communal areas and other amenities has also raised the stakes, Long said. 'They've done a great job of turning it into more of a social event,' he said. That mainly happens in the common areas where general admission tickets — standing room, without a seat — can be purchased for a face value of roughly $20. But those tickets — along with blocks of seats in the 500s — are often snapped up by scalpers or fellow fans looking to make a quick buck, Long said. General admission seats for Toronto's opener against Kansas City were priced around $50 and up for resale Wednesday. 'People are watching the market,' said Long, who added website algorithms can boost prices automatically when tickets are at a premium. 'Even average fans, professional ticket sellers, part-time ticket sellers, they watch. They treat it like a part-time job or a full-time job.' The Jays said in a statement the club encourages fans to plan ahead and purchase tickets well in advance of games. The team noted there are plenty of seats available for series later in August and September. Long agreed getting tickets early is the best practice, but added scanning resale options for popular games can still garner good results. 'Jot down the price and then go back in a few days,' he said. 'If the prices haven't really moved, that's an indicator … you eventually might find a hidden gem.' The face value of Gardiner's tickets sit at just over $100 each per game. She hasn't looked to make a profit in the past, but sold for as much as $350 apiece for the Yankees series, and got $450 this weekend. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Prices for season-ticket holders jumped significantly following the Rogers Centre renovations. Gardiner said she knows a number of fellow fans — including some with tickets since Day 1 back in 1977 at Exhibition Stadium — who have gone that route to maintain their small pieces of baseball real estate. The financial calculus of attending Jays games aside, Gardiner said the energy at the ballpark is comparable to when she first bought in a decade ago. 'It's like being there in 2015,' she said. 'There was something different, and that's what it's feeling like in that building. 'Everyone keeps saying it's like a playoff game. It is electric.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Riding the hype': Fans paying a premium to see first-place Toronto Blue Jays
TORONTO - Heather Gardiner couldn't give her seats away. The Blue Jays owned a record under .500 back in the spring, and looked poised for another middling campaign with little playoff hope. Things then drastically turned around on the field. Toronto now sits first in the American League East. And tickets are a hot commodity — often at a hefty price. Getting into Rogers Centre to see Canada's only Major League Baseball team has quickly morphed into a costly endeavour this summer that has surprised some fans. A recent sold-out series against the New York Yankees saw the cheapest seats on resale sites going for more than $200 apiece, while a ticket in the 500 level for Friday's series-opener with the Kansas City Royals was in the neighbourhood of $80 as of Wednesday afternoon — more than double face value. Gardiner and her family have two season tickets near the visitors dugout. The tech consultant, who's had seats since Toronto's 2015 playoff run, sold most of her extras at cost to friends last season. After the Jays' underwhelming start to 2025, interest dropped to near zero. 'We were posting on social media three days before a game saying, 'We can't make it and if you want the tickets let me know and they're yours,'' Gardiner said. 'They were free and people weren't taking them.' Toronto's surge up the standings signalled a drastic shift across the ticket market. Fans can make purchases directly from the team through Ticketmaster, while the website also has verified resale options — usually at an inflated price — similar to other big-hitters like SeatGeek and StubHub when supply is scarce. Jagger Long, who runs Toronto-based resale website Karma Tickets, said a number of factors, including summer holidays, tourism and a winning team are contributing to the spikes. 'We're riding the hype of the Jays,' he said. 'People are spending the money. If they weren't, the prices would come down.' A multi-million dollar renovation of Rogers Centre that improved sightlines, added more bars, communal areas and other amenities has also raised the stakes, Long said. 'They've done a great job of turning it into more of a social event,' he said. That mainly happens in the common areas where general admission tickets — standing room, without a seat — can be purchased for a face value of roughly $20. But those tickets — along with blocks of seats in the 500s — are often snapped up by scalpers or fellow fans looking to make a quick buck, Long said. General admission seats for Toronto's opener against Kansas City were priced around $50 and up for resale Wednesday. 'People are watching the market,' said Long, who added website algorithms can boost prices automatically when tickets are at a premium. 'Even average fans, professional ticket sellers, part-time ticket sellers, they watch. They treat it like a part-time job or a full-time job.' The Jays said in a statement the club encourages fans to plan ahead and purchase tickets well in advance of games. The team noted there are plenty of seats available for series later in August and September. Long agreed getting tickets early is the best practice, but added scanning resale options for popular games can still garner good results. 'Jot down the price and then go back in a few days,' he said. 'If the prices haven't really moved, that's an indicator … you eventually might find a hidden gem.' The face value of Gardiner's tickets sit at just over $100 each per game. She hasn't looked to make a profit in the past, but sold for as much as $350 apiece for the Yankees series, and got $450 this weekend. Prices for season-ticket holders jumped significantly following the Rogers Centre renovations. Gardiner said she knows a number of fellow fans — including some with tickets since Day 1 back in 1977 at Exhibition Stadium — who have gone that route to maintain their small pieces of baseball real estate. The financial calculus of attending Jays games aside, Gardiner said the energy at the ballpark is comparable to when she first bought in a decade ago. 'It's like being there in 2015,' she said. 'There was something different, and that's what it's feeling like in that building. 'Everyone keeps saying it's like a playoff game. It is electric.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
Global News
14 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
Fans paying a premium to see first-place Blue Jays
TORONTO – Heather Gardiner couldn't give her seats away. The Blue Jays owned a record under .500 back in the spring, and looked poised for another middling campaign with little playoff hope. Things then drastically turned around on the field. Toronto now sits first in the American League East. And tickets are a hot commodity — often at a hefty price. Getting into Rogers Centre to see Canada's only Major League Baseball team has quickly morphed into a costly endeavour this summer that has surprised some fans. A recent sold-out series against the New York Yankees saw the cheapest seats on resale sites going for more than $200 apiece, while a ticket in the 500 level for Friday's series-opener with the Kansas City Royals was in the neighbourhood of $80 as of Wednesday afternoon — more than double face value. Story continues below advertisement Gardiner and her family have two season tickets near the visitors dugout. The tech consultant, who's had seats since Toronto's 2015 playoff run, sold most of her extras at cost to friends last season. After the Jays' underwhelming start to 2025, interest dropped to near zero. 'We were posting on social media three days before a game saying, 'We can't make it and if you want the tickets let me know and they're yours,'' Gardiner said. 'They were free and people weren't taking them.' Toronto's surge up the standings signalled a drastic shift across the ticket market. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Fans can make purchases directly from the team through Ticketmaster, while the website also has verified resale options — usually at an inflated price — similar to other big-hitters like SeatGeek and StubHub when supply is scarce. Story continues below advertisement Jagger Long, who runs Toronto-based resale website Karma Tickets, said a number of factors, including summer holidays, tourism and a winning team are contributing to the spikes. 'We're riding the hype of the Jays,' he said. 'People are spending the money. If they weren't, the prices would come down.' A multi-million dollar renovation of Rogers Centre that improved sightlines, added more bars, communal areas and other amenities has also raised the stakes, Long said. 'They've done a great job of turning it into more of a social event,' he said. That mainly happens in the common areas where general admission tickets — standing room, without a seat — can be purchased for a face value of roughly $20. But those tickets — along with blocks of seats in the 500s — are often snapped up by scalpers or fellow fans looking to make a quick buck, Long said. General admission seats for Toronto's opener against Kansas City were priced around $50 and up for resale Wednesday. 'People are watching the market,' said Long, who added website algorithms can boost prices automatically when tickets are at a premium. 'Even average fans, professional ticket sellers, part-time ticket sellers, they watch. They treat it like a part-time job or a full-time job.' The Jays said in a statement the club encourages fans to plan ahead and purchase tickets well in advance of games. The team noted there are plenty of seats available for series later in August and September. Story continues below advertisement Long agreed getting tickets early is the best practice, but added scanning resale options for popular games can still garner good results. 'Jot down the price and then go back in a few days,' he said. 'If the prices haven't really moved, that's an indicator … you eventually might find a hidden gem.' The face value of Gardiner's tickets sit at just over $100 each per game. She hasn't looked to make a profit in the past, but sold for as much as $350 apiece for the Yankees series, and got $450 this weekend. Prices for season-ticket holders jumped significantly following the Rogers Centre renovations. Gardiner said she knows a number of fellow fans — including some with tickets since Day 1 back in 1977 at Exhibition Stadium — who have gone that route to maintain their small pieces of baseball real estate. The financial calculus of attending Jays games aside, Gardiner said the energy at the ballpark is comparable to when she first bought in a decade ago. 'It's like being there in 2015,' she said. 'There was something different, and that's what it's feeling like in that building. 'Everyone keeps saying it's like a playoff game. It is electric.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Story continues below advertisement
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Spectacular' sapphire-blue species discovered on Angola's highest mountain peak
On Angola's highest mountain, a brilliant sapphire-colored butterfly was observed basking in the sun. After flying about and surveying its territory, the creature spent 'long periods sunning itself' on the side of a tree in the high-altitude forests on Mount Moco. Now, researcher Alan John Gardiner has determined the remarkable specimen is actually a new species of Iolaus butterfly, according to a study published July 8 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. Iolaus francisi, or the Francis's gorgeous sapphire, is described as having wings with an upper side that's shiny blue and black and an underside that is 'silver white,' according to the study. The coloration on the species upper wings can reflect different shades of blue depending on the angle and the light, Gardiner said. It's hind wings have a pattern that resembles a large eye called an 'eyespot,' according to the study. This patterning can serve as a defense against predators. 'It is remarkable that such spectacular invertebrates as I. francisi remain undocumented,' Gardiner said in the study. The study suggests the number of butterfly species in Angola may be greatly underestimated, with many yet undiscovered. The current figure of 792 recorded species may actually be 1,100 to 1,600, according to Gardiner. To date, Francis's gorgeous sapphire has only been found in Angola's central highlands forests, at elevations of about 5,000 feet. These forests are extremely fragmented, however, and getting smaller due to human pressures, according to Gardiner. 'Only a few patches of relatively undisturbed habitat remain,' Gardiner said. 'They remain mostly due to their being inaccessible as they are on steep slopes or in rugged rocky areas.' These patches are under threat from agriculture, logging, excessive fires and high livestock densities, and they're rapidly being depleted, Gardiner said. The study calls for a greater push to document new species and protect the areas in which they are found.
Winnipeg Free Press
12-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Scrutiny for supervised drug consumption site in Victoria's ‘Downtown Eastside'
VICTORIA – The value of a supervised consumption site in the heart of Victoria's most downtrodden neighbourhood is under debate — is it a life-saving tool, or a magnet for drug dealers victimizing those in an encampment on the site's doorstep? Victoria Coun. Marg Gardiner said the facility is a draw for both 'those addicted to drugs and for drug dealers, who prey on the weak and ill among those encamped' in the three blocks along Pandora Avenue. 'It's Victoria's Downtown Eastside,' she said in an interview, likening Pandora to the Vancouver neighbourhood plagued by crime, poverty and addiction. Gardiner tabled a motion that went before council this week asking Victoria to formally request Island Health to close the facility, along with a second nearby facility, by Aug. 31. The council put off any request and the issue was deferred until Nov. 6. Mayor Marianne Alto said time was needed to gather evidence for a 'well-informed discussion' about a 'very complex' issue like supervised-consumption sites. Gardiner's motion was prompted by a presentation to council last month from Dr. Reka Gustafson, Island Health's chief medical health officer. Gustafson said the 'vast majority of people who use substances' are not using the Pandora facility, adding that about 80 people are using inhalation services at the site each day. 'The estimated number of people who use opiates in British Columbia is 225,000,' she said. 'So, I think it's really important that the overwhelming majority of people, who use substances and who are dying from toxic substances aren't the people, who are visible to us, aren't necessarily the individuals, that we often talk about.' For Gardiner, Gustafson's comments mean that users of the facility 'tend to be regular clientele' while 'most of those encamped on the 900 block of Pandora do not seek' out the facility. Island Health did not directly respond to a request for an interview about Gustafson's comments but provided a statement describing the value of the consumption site. Many consider the 800 to 1,000 blocks of Pandora Avenue the epicentre of Victoria's homelessness challenge with multiple tents and other sleeping structures set up along its sidewalks. Bicycles and shopping carts loaded with belongings are parked nearby. Portable fencing has been set up to separate the encampment from a nearby church and other businesses. Alto said delaying Gardiner's motion would give the city time to implement its recently approved Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, which includes several items to address that section of Pandora Ave. The mayor earlier this month announced the plan that would pour $10.35 million into more police and bylaw officers, temporary housing and cleanup as it tries to reduce crime, homelessness and addiction. The supervised consumption site, known as The Harbour, first opened its doors in June 2018 as Victoria's first such facility under a federal exemption to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act that is set to expire in 2027. The facility supervises people who consume drugs through their nose, mouth, injections and inhalation, so that they can receive immediate treatment in case they overdose. It also provides safer drug use supplies, drug testing, harm-reduction supplies and harm-reduction education among other services. Island Health, which operates the facility in partnership with Lookout Housing and Health Society and Solid Outreach Society, said in its statement that the facility is part of 'evidence-based health services that reduce adverse outcomes and death for people who use substances.' Island Health said the facility received about 3,000 visits from 445 different people in June. It said three drug poisonings happened inside the facility with no deaths or adverse events last month. Preliminary information from the BC Centre for Disease Control shows that Island Health's seven overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites have averted an estimated 2,140 deaths between January 2019 and October 2024. As of June 10, 2025, Greater Victoria has recorded 36 overdose deaths, down from 161 in 2024 and 175 in 2023. Gardiner said in an interview that she knew the likelihood of council supporting her closure motion was 'quite low,' but defended it by saying that the 'general public has to know what is going on' on Pandora. She said she believes the consumption sites are not working, and she suggests they should be closed entirely, rather than moved elsewhere. The supervised consumption sites have failed, Gardiner said, especially against the backdrop of the deadly opioid fentanyl, which she said was a 'game-changer' in Victoria's drug subculture. 'The normalization of illicit drugs is harmful to individuals, who fall victim to drug addiction,' she said. 'It's harmful to their families, and it's harmful to society at large. If this council is committed to a safer city, it must do more than increase enforcement, while supporting illicit drug use behind closed door, because that is what we are doing.' Alto said during debate that deferral of the motion gives time to discuss the future of the facility, not just with Island Health, but also with the province and other actors in the health field, including public health officials. She said they'll be able to gather some evidence to have a 'well-informed discussion' and allow them to perhaps adjust the motion. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'I will say that I have already been in conversation with a number of those people, including (B.C. Health Minister) Josie Osborne,' Alto said Thursday, adding that Osborne had signalled a willingness to continue the conversation on improving the situation along Pandora Avenue. Gardiner opposed deferral, saying that she does not 'want to wait another two years' before Victoria makes a decision. Island Health didn't comment on the deferral. 'Island Health is aware of the recent motion before Victoria city council,' it said in its statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
