Rogers Centre leaves craft beer off the menu for Blue Jays fans

A Toronto restaurant owner has started a petition in support of putting craft beers back into the hands of Blue Jays fans.

Last month the Toronto Blue Jays organization said it was splitting with Steam Whistle Brewery — located steps from the Rogers Centre — citing objections to how the beer company was using its Twitter feed. 

The move sparked Phil Cacace, owner of Tallboys Craft Beer House, to start an online petition in support of providing Ontario craft beer at Jays home games.

"We're not featuring anything distinctly Canadian or Torontonian," Cacace told CBC News. "There is a brewery across the street from you."

According to the change.org petition, the Jays are the only team in Major League Baseball not to sell at least one craft beer option at their ballpark.

"The Toronto Blue Jays can't afford to be ignorant to the evolving tastes of their loyal fans," the petition reads.

As of right now the Rogers Centre will only be selling Labatt and Sleeman products at opening day on Friday when the Jays face off against the New York Yankees.

Paul Beeston, the president and CEO of the Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre, said it's about 

"We do our deals, and we do our sponsorships, and they pay dollars," he said. "With those dollars, they get a level of exclusivity."

He said that Budweiser was getting that exclusivity this year. 

Hear the full interview with Beeston by clicking the Listen button on the top left of this page.