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Toronto to Host World Baseball Classic?

St. Even

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Toronto to host World Baseball Classic?
Last Updated: Friday, February 8, 2008 | 8:19 PM ET
The Canadian Press

Canada is a "strong possibility" to host one of the four groups in first-round play at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, a source with knowledge of the tournament's planning told the Canadian Press on Friday.

The group, which would include the powerhouse United States, would play its games at the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, said the source.

Japan defeated Cuba in the final of the 2006 World Baseball Classic in San Diego.Japan defeated Cuba in the final of the 2006 World Baseball Classic in San Diego.
(Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)

Tokyo, Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico, are slated to host the other three groups as part of the proposed all-international first round.

Subsequent rounds would be played in the United States, where most of the inaugural classic back in 2006 was played. American sites in the running include L.A.'s Dodgers Stadium, Minute Maid Park in Houston, AT&T Park in San Francisco, Phoenix's Chase Field and San Diego's Petco Park.

An official announcement is likely to come in March.

Canada posted a thrilling 8-6 upset over the Americans at Chase Field during the '06 tournament — one of the biggest wins in national team history — but failed to advance to the second round after falling 9-1 to Mexico in a do-or-die game.
© The Canadian Press, 2008
 
The WBC coming to Toronto is a logical step. I predicted around the time of the first WBC on the forum that this would happen.

Toronto seems to have revived itself as a hub for major sporting events these days. The International Bowl, U-20 World Cup, Grey Cup, the Buffalo Bills, MLS All-Star Game (perhaps the first to feature Beckham?) and now this. Let's top this streak off with a regular-season English Premiership game! (or the Pan-Am Games, or the Olympics)
 

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