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“I feel like our fans have been unbelievable the last few years and honestly we saw it in (2015) when we started making that push in the second half and it just got better and better and better.”

That loyal audience has produced huge revenue for Rogers Communications, much of it based on the good faith that the team would continue to push for playoff contention.

That loyal audience had also put up with an increase in ticket prices for three consecutive seasons and then were asked to pony up yet another for 2018 — as high as 17% in some categories — despite last year’s wildly disappointing season.

And now with the Yankees and Boston Red Sox loading up and the perception that the Jays brass hasn’t done enough to stay with them, don’t be surprised if fans sit on their wallets until they see what the Jays have.

Midweek attendance is traditionally low in April, so the minuscule crowds expected for the White Sox from Monday to Wednesday won’t be out of the ordinary.

After that, though, who would be surprised if what was becoming one of the most loyal ticket-buying fan bases in baseball takes a big step backwards.

There will soon be Maple Leafs and Raptors post season runs, damaging competition in any market to be sure. But even without hockey and basketball competing for those sporting dollars, it’s a lock that the Jays won’t lead the AL in attendance for a third consecutive season.

Don’t discount the effect of the rise in ticket prices — or the reason for it — either. In an interview with Rogers-owned sportsnet.ca, Shapiro said the jack-up was for competitive reasons.