GTA restaurants hope Blue Jays fever will help struggling industry

Despite the foot traffic brought in by the Blue Jays in the World Series, Toronto bars and restaurants are still struggling.

Data from Silverware, a hospitality software service, and their 2025 Canadian Hospitality Service Report, has shown that numerous restaurants and bars in the Canadian service sector have been barely getting by over the past year.

While it will take a few weeks to see what impact the Toronto Blue Jays bringing out fans to watch the World Series will have — especially in areas like the GTA — it will still need to be monumental, as the challenges faced by locations trying to meet their bottom line are, based on the data, immense.

Nearly 40 per cent of all hospitality operators across Ontario are feeling economic pressure more than anywhere else in the country, while on a national scale, one in four locations are struggling to stay staffed amid slower business, especially in sectors like the hotel industry.

Outside of just hotel chains, the entire hospitality industry is also juggling maintaining the experienced staff they have left, with 30 per cent of them stating that finding able hands is their number one priority. Following closely behind, an average, 24 per cent of Canadian hospitality locations have cited that guests are now making note of the lack of affordable pricing standards in these locations, as they try to keep up with modern inflation standards.

The only silver lining, authorities within the industry state, is that communal engagements like the World Series may generate a lingering effect that keeps people out celebrating, potentially even well into the holiday season.

With Sam Brenner, President of Silverware, stating, “Big sports moments like the World Series give Canada’s hospitality industry a real momentum boost, especially in Ontario, where operators have been feeling the slowdown most. We’re seeing restaurants and hotels fill up again as fans gather to celebrate, and that sense of energy is contagious. For many owners, this isn’t just about game-day sales — it’s about hope. After years of uncertainty, they’re finally seeing signs of recovery and a reminder of how powerful shared experiences can be for business and community alike.”