This Jays fan took a swing at Game 7 tickets. Now, the final game of the World Series is here

The Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up for Game 7 of the World Series. Nick Renaud of Windsor, Ont. is one the lucky people who've scored tickets. (Rob Cooper/CTV News, Sanjay Maru/CTV News)

When Nick Renaud and his girlfriend entered an online draw for Toronto Blue Jays playoff tickets, they knew they were taking a long shot — not just at winning a spot in the queue, but at buying seats for a game that might never even happen.

The Jays still had to make it to a Game 7 of the World Series — something that hadn’t ever happened before.

This year, luck was on their side.

Renaud’s girlfriend was randomly assigned position 500 out of about 64,000 fans in the online ticket queue, giving them rare first access to post-season seats. When it came time to choose a game, she picked Game 7.

“She just hoped it would go that far,” said Renaud, who moved back to Windsor a few months ago after living in Hamilton. “It was just luck of the draw.”

Now, that unlikely bet has paid off.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers forcing a decisive Game 7 in Toronto, Renaud is among the lucky fans heading to Rogers Centre on Saturday night.

“I’m super excited,” he said. “Everybody in the city has their Jays gear on. The line-ups for merch are hours long. The fans are definitely ready,” he said.

Renaud’s girlfriend joined the online ticket queue about a week ago, when the Blue Jays released seats for potential World Series games.

She paid about $500 per ticket, according to Renaud, adding he has seen resale prices soar to as high as $4,000 online.

“It’s going to be heartbreaking if they lose. It’ll make me feel like a dummy for not selling the tickets,” he laughed. “But the chance of seeing them win is worth it.”

It’ll be Renaud’s first playoff baseball game — though he’s been hooked on big sporting moments ever since attending the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship run.

Around Windsor, other fans are sharing in that anticipation.

Philip Magri said his household has been transformed into a Jays watch-party zone, decked out in blue and white as the team chases its first title since 1993.

“It’s my first time watching a World Series with the Jays in it. I wasn’t even alive the last time,” Magri said, adding he would shell out quite a bit of cash to attend Game 7 in Toronto.

“I wish I had five grand to go to the game, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “Who knows when they’ll ever go again?”

Fellow fan Joseph Rousseau said a win tonight would mean the world to longtime supporters who have waited decades for another championship moment.

“I was two years old when they won their first World Series,” Rousseau said. “I just appreciate that all the people are rallying behind the Blue Jays and we’re getting the support that we need for this final series.”

As for Renaud, who admits he was slightly happy that the Jays didn’t rob him of his opportunity to witness Game 7 after losing to the Dodgers in Friday’s Game 6, he’s hopeful that a historic Jays victory Saturday night will lead to a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

“I’m hoping for a bottom-of-the-ninth walk-off,” he said. “The whole city will be lit until 5 a.m. — and I’ll be out there.”

People in Windsor can watch the big game with their fellow residents during a special watch party at Windsor City Hall Square tonight at 7 p.m.

The first pitch is at 8 p.m.