2009 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC COMING TO CANADA

Canada, the United States, Italy and Venezuela will all play games at Rogers Centre.

Rogers Centre has been named as one of the four venues selected to host the opening round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic. This was formally announced during the World Baseball Classic media conference in Toyko, Japan on Sunday, March 23, 2008.

The opening round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic will be played next March in four separate nations. Joining Canada will be Tokyo, Japan; Mexico City, Mexico and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Toronto will host Pool C featuring games from Sunday, March 8 through Thursday, March 12 between the national teams from Canada, Italy, United States and Venezuela.

"This is a world class event for Rogers Centre and the City of Toronto. What better place to hold the World Baseball Classic than in a city that has such a strong international reach? The raised global profile of the tournament, along with the great performance of teams from the United States, Venezuela, Italy and our own, Team Canada, will make these games most exciting as fans will see their favourite players demonstrate an unprecedented level of passion and dedication to their national teams."
Paul Godfrey, President and CEO, Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre

Rogers Centre is home to Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In addition, this world class facility hosts many cultural and family shows, concerts and trade shows, and sporting events including the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills who will play eight games over five seasons at Rogers Centre starting in 2008.

As more information is made available it will be posted to the website so check back often. You can also visit Major League Baseball's official site for the Classic.