Blue Jays Fly Outside The Box To Sell Tix

"Hottest pre-season action" and "Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds" in the same sentence? Doesn't sound like covering the game is a priority anyway.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Cincinnati Reds
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 on Citytv
Broadcast Begins at 12:30pm ET Live From Dunedin, Florida

 TORONTO, Feb. 19 /CNW/ - Citytv takes you out to the ball
game as it brings you the hottest pre-season action live
from Dunedin, Florida as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the
Cincinnati Reds Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 on Citytv. Live
coverage begins at 12:30pm ET.

Join some of your favourite Citytv personalities in
supporting the Toronto Blue Jays. "CityNews" anchor Gord
Martineau, resident Sports Specialists Kathryn Humphreys
and Hugh Burrill, and "Breakfast Television's" Jennifer 
Valentyne are joined by The Fan 590's Barb DiGiulio to
bring you three hours of pre-season action, atmosphere and
excitement as it happens.This unconventional sports
broadcast team will give you a perspective on baseball
you've never seen before on television! The last half hour
of the telecast will take you behind the scenes at the
season ticket holder barbeque where fans get to rub elbows
with their favourite players.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Toronto
Blue Jays in this Citytv baseball broadcast first" said
Jamie Haggarty, Executive Vice President, Television
Operations, GM/VP Citytv Toronto, Rogers Media Television.
"We look forward to offering our viewers a taste of
pre-season action from sunny Florida, giving them a chance
to witness all the action Citytv-style."

"We are excited about our partnership with Citytv and
love the fact that they will broadcast our March 2 game
against the Cincinnati Reds using such a diverse crew,"
commented Patrick Elster, VP Ticket Sales &Services.
"Live during the broadcast they will also announce the
Grand Prize winner from our Spot the Bobblehead contest
which kicks off February 22nd."

Those crazy Canadians may not be so crazy. The telecast is basically set up to sell 2008 Blue Jays tickets. Tickets to individual games go on sale the same day. Heavy local promotion combined with the use of popular Toronto non-sports TV personalities could attract an audience with wider demographics than a typical Spring Training game.

There's no coincidence that Citytv, the Blue Jays, and SkyDome Rogers Centre are all owned by Rogers Communications.

Ah, synergy.

This isn't exactly Citytv's first foray into, uh, creative coverage of the Jays during Spring Training as evidenced by this clip from 1984.

Thanks to Peter Gross

Can't say they didn't try.