And this right here is what makes it so hard to replace. You will never be able to beat that location. There is no land downtown on the scale needed for a ball park.
they arent going to replace the stadium anytime within the next 30 years. ontario is in deep debt and toronto can't get anything done. i can't see tax payers wanting to spend money on a new baseball stadium.
Agree! If the tax payers just voted down improvements to the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium, the tax payers of Toronto would never fund a new stadium for the far less popular Blue Jays.
What does Ontario have anything to do with the stadium? In Canada, especially Toronto, most of the investment into stadia over the past 20 years has been completely funded privately.
I agree with you, the newly renovated SkyDome looks great, especially with the darker blue color for the outfield walls, I'm thinking that an NFL team will be relocating to Toronto or Toronto will get an NFL expansion team in 5 to 10 years, from what I hear, Toronto is a great city 👍🇨🇦
The tax payers of the city have no interest in funding a new stadium for those that should be doing it themselves. Another issue is land is at a premium down town so easier said than done.
A hard thing about replacing it is location. Right now it’s in the perfect spot. Central, very easily accessible by transit, ample parking and surrounded by other attractions. A new place would have to be in the exact same place, which means they’ll be displaced for a while and we knows where that’ll be.
Its just old. Thats the new trend in sports. The lifecycle of a stadium/arena is 30 years. Lets get rid of the old one and build a new one with the government spending the funds. You can bet Rogers was floating the idea of a new stadium to the city. When the city/province/country said they wouldnt provide the funding, they went with the massive renovation instead.
There is a LOT wrong with it. Since the outer walls are not built parallel to the baselines, you have some REALLY huge lower sections. Look how many rows they go back both behind the plate and behind the dugouts. Add in that if you are in the upper deck you actually are FAR further away from the field at third base than you are in the outfield. These are things that cant be fixed.
I don’t see ownership putting any more money into the stadium. This is it for the next 20-30 years. We don’t have corporate welfare in Canada. We don’t give billionaires taxpayer money to help them run their businesses
I always find it interesting how ginger always refers to this translucent roof idea, but i have never heard anyone close to the team ever speak about this concept in any serious way. A while back they were looking at possibilities about growing natural grass but that idea was quickly dumped into the trash.
The best part about the Rogers Centre is its location. It's easy to get to from anywhere in the city (and even from outside the city) and it's right in the middle of downtown. A new stadium might be a downgrade because I don't know another place in Toronto that would be a better location for a stadium.
They should put some cladding on the outdide and make an outfoor district. This stadium is good now that inside is renovated. It's not going away for a while.
When Rogers was first opened in 1989 I lived a 15 minute walk from it. Since then there has been so much residential construction built around the whole area that it was built to last. It was so far ahead of it's time back then that many years passed before another city built a retractable dome stadium. Also 80 percent of the seats are exposed when opened and facing directly to the field with no head turning to see the action. After the now completed two phase makeover with all private funding it is again ahead of it's time. The team just sucks currently is the major issue.
A different type of roof might be a problem since the CN tower is next to the stadium and in the winter the tower can get ice buildup on it and when the ice starts to melt the ice falls off and has in the past damaged the current roof of the stadium so unless there's a extremely strong translosive material available I think that it wouldn't be worth that headache
The natural light issue is not a problem in Toronto like elsewhere... unlike Texas where they hide behind it in the summer... Rogers centre actually opens the roof... they only really close it in inclement weather...
The Rogers Centre renos look awesome. It's just too bad that the team is absolute crap. As far as a translucent roof, I'm not sure that would really work. There's just so much structure to the roof design that I think would just create so many shadows on the field.
The biggest factor in Toronto is the location of the stadium. If they do build a new stadium, it wouldn't be anywhere near the city center, which could cause attendance problems.
No reason not to build it in the same spot. They could easily build a temporary, "field of dreams"-like diamond in the GTA while the current structure is demolished and rebuilt.
@@robgrossi2368 well that gets complicated. Rogers owns the stadium but not the land underneath it. The land is on a lease. Furthermore because of all the concrete tearing down the Skydome would be a lengthy process. You are talking about at least 4-5 years playing in a temporary stadium if you choose to go that route with drastically reduced income while they are doing it and greatly increased costs. And none of that figures out the land issue.
Yeah, this location is really hard to beat right now. Downtown stadiums are the best because you can easily attract everyone to it in a central location.
@@cyris917 even so… I can’t think of a better use / something that will profit the downtown core more than SkyDome 2. So I guess it would be up to Rogers to determine if the price of rent is worth it for them. If the government is smart, they’ll make it work
I understand his viewpoint about the facade having an outdated look, but I actually like the look of it. It kind of has an old feel to it, kind of like how the new Yankee Stadium looks on the outside
Marriott controls what happens to the windows and frames in the outfield since it's part of their privately-owned hotel. If they say not, it's no. That said, since it doesn't affect the uniform look of the hotel outside the ballpark, I think a deal could be cut with Rogers Communications (Jays owner) to replace the windows and change the color of the frames, all at Rogers' expense. Rogers also owns the ballpark and it's located in the heart of downtown Toronto (prime location), but there's still a risk for the Marriott that the Jays may eventually build a new ballpark somewhere else in Toronto and sell the Rogers Centre to another party (demolished and used for another purpose - very valuable land) which would show the windows from the outside.
It is easier said than done but I have been saying for awhile I would love to see natural light come into the stadium when the roof is closed somehow. They did a good job on the latest renovations and I dont think the old Skydome is going anywhere anytime soon. Even if they were to build a new stadium it would have to be on the current site as there is no where left to build a new stadium in downtown Toronto. Even if a spot was found more likely than not it will be a less convenient location than where the Skydome currently is
The translucent roof will never happen. It would cook the people in the dome because they would need FAR thicker panels for the roof than they would at any other stadium. The CN tower would be the biggest issue to prevent that.
Take a shot for the translucent roof reference! A few years back when the renos were being planned, there was some serious thought given to whether they could somehow grow grass indoors and get rid of the artfiicial turf. In seriousness I think a translucent roof was actually part of the discussion. Ultimately it wasn't happening and they just went with the all-dirt infield.
Only complaint I have is the exterior. I like the big banners with all the players, but the lack of colour and rust on the steel framing on the canopies doesn't look great
Leave the roof alone. It's fine. It gives Rogers Centre character. Don't change the overlooking windows of the hotel too. Keep the same color window sill. Dark blue will clash and it won't look good, especially for TV.. They did a great job with the renovations.
It's a good idea. But they can only do this reno in the offseason but the winter weather might get in the way. So yeah, if and only if, this can be easily be done and potentially be OK with possibly being partially done for an April and figure the rest out for the next offseason
Yeah, it's likely this will be it for the Jays as this renovation will secure the stadium for at least another 15-20 years, maybe more. The only problem is the roof at this point. Translucent would be best, but I heard because of the CN Tower being next to it the ice from off of it could cause problems when it drops.
I like the idea of ballparks sticking around for the long term. Not all ballparks can have the charm of a Wrigley or Fenway, but that's okay. Part of the appeal of college football is that most of the stadiums have been around for generations.
All they need to do next is change the upper deck and it would look completely modern inside. Id like to see the upper deck resemble more of a coors field how they have the bars and restaurants at the top of the deck.
Rogers Centre is perfectly located, if they were to do anything major, it wouldnt be in its location. I would say dont mess with it, its great as it is
Rogers has to pay for all the renovations themselves as Canadian taxpayers would have a fit. Adding a balcony to each of the hotel windows would be cool though and would add a lot of revenue to the hotel/stadium 🏟️
I think the Sydome is a beautiful place for baseball. I am saying this as a fan who watches games whenever Oakland plays there. It has aged well and the renovations that have been made look great on t.v.. The outside from what you have shown looks great as well; every stadium should have to look modern on the outside to be great. I hope they can keep it for another 25+ years or until Jesus' return.
The team had been waiting on local business politics regarding Rail Deck Park - a green park built over existing railways downtown by bridging new made parklands over the rails beneath. The Jays would've linked new infrastructure with that park & gone all in with long term renos. Alas, the railroad companies declared all 'air rights' to any/all land used above the tracks. Long term is baseball specific park directly south of Rogers Centre at the now railway yard/museum. Transparent roof was I believe negated in the 80's due to environmental concerns with birds - akin using too much glass exteriors within downtown.
I grew up in Toronto and have covered many events at the dome as a professional photographer. Here are some useless facts for anyone who cares. - Before the SkyDome was built the jays played out of Exhibition Place which was an outdoor venue. When the SkyDome was built it was touted as one of the only retractable roofs in the world. - When the city decided to sell the dome to a corporate sponsor it was listed for just $25 million, which I can assume why Rogers scooped it up. We have several houses in Drake’s neighbourhood that cost more than that in 2024. - One of the most infamous events that took place there was when a couple had sex in the hotel in front of the large open windows and it was showing on the jumbotron by mistake.
Dude it is obvious you never been to The Rogers Centre when the roof is closed it isn't dark or dank inside the entire stadium is well lit adding natural light to the 6-10 day games played at Rogers Centre when the roof is closed doesn't really add anything to watching and event there or is worth the $500 million it would cost to make those changes (yes Mark Shapiro already talked about the costs and lack of value those changes would make) when there is a big crowd no one is staring at the roof looking for natural light, there is only a hand full of games were the roof is closed during a day game and those pictures you keep posting of the roof panel that lets light in was from when they were considering putting in natural grass and scraped that idea of a number of reasons mainly it doesn't add much because people would showup regards the playing surface or light coming in when the roof is closed, also ice coming off the cn tower in April would smash the panelling and Mark Shapiro also said if they did a $800 million renovation then they would of addressed the exterior and the roof but with all the existing office towers, condos and bars that surround the stadium there isn't a needs for a baseball related district like the other stadiums built in the suburbs or the ghetto and need to attract people to the area
It is with some interest and considerable insight that I watch these videos and listen to the discussions around stadiums and arenas. It is also with not a small amount of puzzlement bordering on disgust, to be honest. I was involved in the building of that venue along with the nearby NHL arena and as such, have a very good grasp of the amount of concrete and steel, not to mention dollars, that went into their construction. The idea that such buildings have a "life span", especially one so short as they seem to have, is disturbing since anything built to that standard should easily last hundreds of years. What's even more disturbing is that this is all being done largely at the expense of taxpayers but for the benefit of billionaires. If these ventures seem to believe that they cannot exist in a building like this for longer than 30-40 years... sometimes not even that!... then let them build and finance their own replacements!
For starters, Rogers still wants a new stadium and no it won't fall on tax payers money. The reason they had to do these renovations is because finding a location for a new stadium is very complex so they had to reno skydome until they figure it out. The issue is, Rogers owns the stadium but they lease the land from the crown. The lease doesn't expire until 2088. That stadium is to big, and that land is to valuable now for 81 baseball games a year so they want to take advantage of that land. My guess is they're still eyeing up something near the Portlands for a new stadium as that whole area is getting developed.
The Skydome was originally completed at over $600 million in '89 (Cdn dollars). It was later sold to Interbrew a Belgian company for less than $40 million in the 90s. After that Skydome became the Rogers Centre for $19 million. This stadium has always been a 'white elephant' on the Toronto waterfront. Whatever is done now in the 2020s this monolith remains a burden on the Ontario tax payers.
Rogers centre is in a much better location we have a nice area around the stadium. Meanwhile the area around brewers stadium is ugly asf. We just have nicer stadium in general.
That's fine, because walking in one of the entrances on the Front Street side (sans the walk TO those entrances) is like walking through a parking garage. Get the full experience.
Thats the point. Youve got enough restaurants in the area to feed everyone before going to a game, and youve got your railway station a 5 minute walk from the stadium. The GO train is full of people after a night game to the point where they specifically have a Lakeshore West train waiting for people after the game.
Canada doesnt allow for tailgating. Even then, theres no way an owner moves to Toronto spends $2 billion on a suburban stadium, or $5 billion for a downtown stadium. The taxpayers wont go for it either. Toronto's demographics are changing. Toronto is so multicultural that not everyone is into Hockey and Baseball anymore. Toronto will get a cricket stadium before an NFL team or a new MLB stadium.
Canadians already have their favorite NFL team, watch the games on TV , buy team merchandise. etc., so the NFL already makes money from coast to coast. Plus, the NFL doesn't want to kill off the CFL, and even though the Toronto Argonauts have the lowest attendance in the league, lots of people watch the games on TV (TSN, which is the ESPN of Canada along with SportsNet - yep, two 24-hour all sports networks up here). Also, MLSE owns the Argos, so money is not an issue.
I agree it's going to have to do for a while but don't call it good. It's still a huge, ugly concrete circle with the highest, worst upper deck in mlb. If you're uncertain go visit a real park.
At Exhibition Stadium, after Opening Day, nobody went to the games until the middle of May. It is cold near the lake, with wind blowing off it, especially at night.
Depends on how you view the stadium. From a MLB team viewpoint it isn't going anywhere any time soon. Land costs too much money in and around Toronto to buy and build an new stadium. Also not much land big enough and with proper access to transit, parking etc to relocate the stadium From the viewpoint on the direction Toronto is going it would have been ripped down ten years ago and turned into shoebox sized million dollar plus condos that the average person cannot afford and the team moved to a place like Whitby or Barrie.
