Fans boo U.S. anthem before Blue Jays home opener at Rogers Centre

John Chidley-Hill · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 27, 2025 4:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: 14 minutes ago

Some Blue Jays fans booed the United States' nationalist anthem astatine Toronto's location opener against the Baltimore Orioles connected Thursday.

There were scattered but audible boos from the sold-out assemblage astatine Rogers Centre arsenic the "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung by the 40-person ensemble from the section signifier accumulation of the Lion King.

Those jeers turned to cheers and singing arsenic the assemblage joined successful with the musical's formed for "O Canada" arsenic members of the Canadian equipped forces unfurled a elephantine Canadian emblem successful the outfield.

Fans astatine hockey, hoops and pro wrestling events successful Canada person been booing the U.S. anthem successful effect to American President Donald Trump's punitive tariffs and repeated suggestions that Canada should articulation the U.S. arsenic its "51st state."

Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who is from Princeton, N.J., said that helium had spoken to his players astir the anticipation of the anthem being booed.

"That's not our focus," said Schneider during a pre-game league with reporters. "Unless it's similar [country euphony star] Chris Stapleton singing the anthem, I'm not truly looking guardant to the anthem unless he's singing it.

"We're expecting immoderate is going to happen, and past focusing connected the game. It's unfortunate. We get it, but I deliberation we're focusing connected the game."

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde besides said his squad had prepared for the imaginable boos.

"We've communicated that with our players, and everybody understands," helium said successful his pre-game scrum successful the visitors' dugout. "We recognize each that.

"Our PR and communications squad did a large occupation of preparing our players for that."

Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who was connected the Blue Jays' World Series-winning squad successful 1993, was honoured with a infinitesimal of soundlessness earlier the nationalist anthems.

A connection was played implicit the ballpark's nationalist code strategy earlier the anthems, encouraging fans to beryllium respectful arsenic shot has historically been a refuge from governmental turmoil.

It's not the archetypal clip fans astatine Rogers Centre person booed the U.S. anthem.

There were large jeers erstwhile the downtown ballpark hosted "Elimination Chamber," a premium unrecorded lawsuit promoted by World Wrestling Entertainment connected March 1.