Might visit Rogers Centre...need help

[Mr. Laser Beam]

All you Blue Jays and/or Argonauts fans, answer me this question:

The visitor's info section of Rogers Centre's homepage says that U.S. currency is accepted all through the place. Obviously this would automatically mean physical currency (meaning, you can give them US dollar bills & coins) but does this include credit cards?

I mean, I am fairly sure they would accept credit cards from the US, but how would US banks treat such a transaction? My understanding is that normally when people use US credit cards abroad, massive fees/service charges would ensue. So when Rogers Centre says they accept US currency, does this mean I can also use an American credit card there without incurring extra charges? (i.e. my bank would treat it as a local transaction) Am I making any sense with this question?

I've emailed them about this but I thought I'd get reactions from here too.

Also, more generally speaking, how is Rogers Centre? Is it a decent place to watch a game? Do you Blue Jays/Argos fans like the place? What are the sight lines like for baseball (my main concern)? I've only seen it on Cathedrals of the Game and it does seem quite a bit better than the crappy multipurpose concrete donuts we used to have down here.

 

[Starbreaker]

I sat in the outfield and saw a game about 8 years ago. It was hard to see anything, honestly. We had really crappy seats though.

 

[Danny99]

The set up for Argos games are alright, however for Jays games, it's just dreadful.

If you're in the outfield or the 500's, you might as well be watching the game at home.

 

[Canadave]

The set up for Argos games are alright, however for Jays games, it's just dreadful.

If you're in the outfield or the 500's, you might as well be watching the game at home.

Infield 500s are pretty decent, though.

 

[SmoothieX]

I mean, I am fairly sure they would accept credit cards from the US, but how would US banks treat such a transaction? My understanding is that normally when people use US credit cards abroad, massive fees/service charges would ensue. So when Rogers Centre says they accept US currency, does this mean I can also use an American credit card there without incurring extra charges? (i.e. my bank would treat it as a local transaction) Am I making any sense with this question?

Most international places will accept plastic that are linked to your US account. It charges/debits the cost of the item from your account in US dollars based on whatever the exchange rate is at that point. Your bank may charge a minor international transaction fee but its nominal.

I drove through the Yukon for a couple days last summer and did this. It worked fine and I didn't have to find a place to exchange money and get hit with the markup the exchangers charge.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Most international places will accept plastic that are linked to your US account. It charges/debits the cost of the item from your account in US dollars based on whatever the exchange rate is at that point.

I did some further checking. Apparently when the merchant itself offers to charge your card in American dollars, they do their OWN exchange rate - which can be whatever they want it to be. (they call it 'dynamic currency conversion') Linky

So there's a very real risk you would be worse off than if they charged it in Canadian dollars and the credit card company handled the exchange. In that case, you can take advantage of the exchange rates that are offered to banks, which almost always are better than what the merchant itself would give you - and most of the time, even when DCC is used, you get hit with a foreign transaction fee ANYWAY.



And the Jays' site has this link that I found. Specifically:

U.S. currency is accepted at the Jays Shop Stadium Edition and all official merchandise locations. All concession stands accept U.S. currency. The exchange rate is posted at all locations. Currency conversion will only be from a result of a sales transaction.

So I guess they do the dynamic conversion thing as well. For what that's worth. (Although I'm a bit mystified by that last sentence."only from the result of a sales transaction" - as opposed to what? )

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

It means that you can't walk in with a fistful of singles and two dollar bills and exchange them for an equivalent amount in loonies and toonies.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It means that you can't walk in with a fistful of singles and two dollar bills and exchange them for an equivalent amount in loonies and toonies.

Ah. I understand... so people won't use them as a bank. That does make sense.