Rogers Communications President & CEO Nadir Mohamed "isn't giving up on" the Blue Jays, even though the team "hasn't come close to meeting expectations," according to Steve Ladurantaye of the GLOBE & MAIL. Mohamed said that it is "too early to determine whether the company's decision to spend" roughly US$125M on salaries this year "was a bad one." He said, "It's the joy of sports. Anybody that owns sports teams knows there are many elements that go into a winning team. But nobody should be confused -- this is not a one-season investment. We are building what we think will be a better team over time." Mohamed, who is leaving Rogers in January, has been "pivotal in building this team, listening carefully as the Jays management proposed deals and negotiated contracts." The team despite a losing record is "still pulling in decent crowds." Through mid-August, the Blue Jays averaged "more than 31,000 fans per game at the Rogers Centre, an improvement of about 5,000 from last year." If the numbers hold up it would "be the best season for ticket sales" since '07 (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/20).
