Blue Jays' George Springer and Ernie Clement asked to move to correct seats at Maple Leafs game

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer and infielder Ernie Clement were attending a Toronto Maple Leafs game against the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, when an usher informed them they were sitting in the wrong seats.

The incident, which gained attention online, showed the players standing up and relocating a few rows higher before moving sideways past seated fans to their assigned spots in the middle of the row.

Upon reaching their correct seats, nearby fans recognized Clement and exchanged fist bumps with him. The pair were later seen celebrating a Maple Leafs goal by high-fiving surrounding spectators.

Springer, 33, is a veteran center fielder who signed a six-year, $150 million contract with the Blue Jays prior to the 2021 season after helping the Houston Astros win the 2017 World Series.[1][2]

Clement, 28, a native of Rochester, New York, who grew up near Toronto, was selected by the Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft and made his major league debut with the team in August 2022.[3][4]

Scotiabank Arena, with a hockey capacity of approximately 19,800, has been the Maple Leafs' home since opening as Air Canada Centre in 1999.[5]

Photographs from the evening captured Springer and Clement watching the Maple Leafs' pre-game warmups.

Sources

1. MLB.com, "George Springer Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-664134
2. MLB.com, "Blue Jays finalize six-year contract with OF George Springer", February 27, 2021, https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-george-springer-agree-to-six-year-deal-c299114950
3. MLB.com, "Ernie Clement Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/ernie-clement-666742
4. MLB.com, "Ernie Clement Stats, Fantasy & News", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/ernie-clement-666742
5. Scotiabank Arena official website, "About", accessed October 2024, https://www.scotiabankarena.com/about