Phase two of Rogers Centre renovations has involved completely reconstructing the 100-level seating bowlBlue Jays
With the second phase of the Rogers Centre renovation underway and a price tag for the entire project "now pushing toward" $400M, Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro said that the corresponding impact on revenues “will better support the way we’ve spent the past few off-seasons,” according to Shi Davidi of SPORTSNET.ca. Shapiro said, “Upper levels of payroll are likely to be where we are or where we have been at.” Davidi noted that thinking is an indication Shapiro views the club’s current projected 2024 payroll of $247.4M for Competitive Balance Tax purposes as a “sustainable spending ceiling.” The Blue Jays paid a luxury tax charge of $5.5M on their 2023 payroll, the “first time in franchise history they’d cleared the threshold line” -- which last year stood at $233M. As a second-time CBT taxpayer, “any amount over” $237M is taxed at 30%, with an additional 12% surcharge on overages of $20-$40M. Teams that spend beyond the CBT threshold -- which next year rises to $241M -- in three consecutive seasons “are charged” a 50% tax on their overages, an “interesting wrinkle to remember next fall.” How the team proceeds once at that point will “only be part of the intrigue for the Blue Jays,” who will also “face major strategic questions” with 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., SS Bo Bichette and P Jordan Romano, among several other players, eligible for free agency after the 2025 season (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/21).
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