On Saturday night, a significant number of baseball fans found themselves stranded across Toronto following the dramatic conclusion of Game 7 of the World Series, which extended into extra innings just as the city’s transit services were winding down for the night. Many fans had flocked to the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto, along with numerous watch parties throughout the city, to support the Toronto Blue Jays.
In a midnight social media post, the City of Toronto reminded fans that “transit won’t wait," indicating that the final GO train was set to depart Union Station shortly, and the last TTC train was scheduled around 1:30 a.m. Following the Blue Jays' heartbreaking 5-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers, fans exited the stadium only to discover that they had missed the last trains home.
Emotions ran high as footage shared on social media showed fans in Blue Jays gear expressing their frustration, with some shouting expletives at transit employees. Among the outcries, people could be heard yelling “shame!” and “unbelievable!" following the disappointing end to the game.
Local politicians responded negatively to the City’s announcement, labeling it condescending. Councillor Josh Matlow criticized the response, stating that the city should have anticipated a late game and made provisions accordingly to prevent thousands of people from being stranded. He indicated his intention to raise the matter at the next TTC board meeting. Similarly, Councillor Brad Bradford condemned the transit schedule as a “dumb” decision.
In a follow-up statement on Sunday afternoon, TTC CEO Mandeep S. Lali clarified that contingencies had been planned to extend subway service and deploy 30 additional buses should the game run late. He confirmed that the game concluded around 12:15 a.m., and because the crowds dispersed swiftly afterward, these contingencies were not implemented. Lali noted that over a dozen extra trains had been operated on Lines 1 and 2, running until the regular service ended. He mentioned the last trains left Union Station around 1:45-1:47 a.m., with Line 2 connections at approximately 1:55 a.m. Additionally, he stated that subway service continued for over 90 minutes after the game’s conclusion and highlighted that 95 percent of streetcar lines provide 24-hour service.
Addressing social media complaints regarding GO and UP Express services, Lali clarified that those services fall under Metrolinx’s jurisdiction, not the TTC’s. He explained that GO trains encountered crewing constraints, limiting their capability to extend service, indicating that such decisions were outside of TTC’s control.
In response to the outcry, Metrolinx representatives stated that additional late-night trains had been put in service on the Lakeshore West Line, Kitchener line, Stouffville Line, and Barrie line, specifically to accommodate fans. A spokesperson relayed that these trains were held for as long as possible after the game ended and were full by the time they departed. Many patrons were also provided accommodation through GO buses and the UP Express. However, they emphasized that due to track ownership and operational considerations, extending late-night service was not feasible, and expressed gratitude for customers’ patience during the playoff series.
