Baseball fever was in the air today as the Toronto Blue Jays welcomed the media to see the freshly baked renovations at the Rogers Center for the first time. Construction on the new Outfield District access areas and other infrastructure improvements began at the end of last season and was completed earlier this week, just in time for the Jays’ home opening next week. Designed by Populous, the project represents the largest renovation in the history of the iconic stadium, built in 1989, and completes the first phase of a multi-year revitalization effort that will continue into the next off-season to improve both fan and player experiences.
Looking north towards the south side of Rogers Centre, photograph by Matias Bessai
“Today we unveil the transformation of Rogers Center from a stadium to a ballpark,” said Mark Shaprio, Blue Jays CEO and President, as he greeted the media on the field between home plate and pitcher’s mound. “In just five days, fans will pour through the gates and the aisles and look out into the Outfield District and see spaces largely created by them.”
Mark Shapiro addresses the media at the unveiling of the renovations at Rogers Center, image by Matias Bessai
Shapiro’s introductory speech was followed by brief comments from Edward Rogers, Chairman and CEO of Blue Jays at Rogers Communications, and Tony Staffieri, President and CEO of Rogers Communications, after which the three executives went outfield for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ribbon, which ran the length of the outfield, fell to applause from the media audience as the remodeled stadium was officially marked as complete.
Blue Jays and Rogers executives cut the ceremonial ribbon in outfield, photo by Matias Bessai
However, the real excitement began with the tour of the new Outfield District, which consists of several different public areas called “neighborhoods” spread across levels 100, 200 and 500.
The first stop on the tour was The Stop. The name of the new food and beverage hall, located directly behind the Batter’s Eye (the midpoint of the outfield wall), pays homage to the ambitious vision of Rogers Center’s original design, which aimed to create a transit station right inside the stadium. While the plan fell through, The Stop continues the legacy through finishes like subway tiles and a series of Transit-inspired murals.
The bus stop, food and drink hall inspired by Toronto Transit, image by Matias Bessai
The space features two concessions and a bar with a striking hammered bronze backsplash, as well as an expedited drink and snack station called “Tap and Go”. The cafeteria-style shop allows fans to purchase items without waiting in line by simply tapping their card upon entry, and the card will be automatically charged upon exit.
Heading towards Right Field, the next “neighborhood” to see was The Catch, a stylish cocktail bar designed to recreate the atmosphere of the various meeting places in Toronto’s Entertainment District. The bar features a thick marble top and has been detailed with gold accents, greenery and a hexagonal tile treatment along the bar wall to deliver the curated downtown look with cocktail offerings to match.
The Catch, cocktail bar overlooking the right field terrace, photograph by Matias Bessai
The bar also features a walk-out terrace style viewing area where fans can stand and watch the game in a casual setting. In order to create this open space, however, 5 rows of seats had to be removed from the level above and four sturdy concrete beams had to be shortened by around 4 to 5 metres.
Gray concrete sections were cut back four meters to make room for a standing section, image by Matias Bessai
On level 200, above right field, Schneider’s Porch offers classic and upscale offerings from the Kitchener-based hot dog and sausage maker with several expanded options including various poutines, while Rogers Landing just a short flight down offers the opportunity to watch the game Stand-up tables directly above the pitch or watch the visiting team pitchers warm up in their new elevated bullpen. Above midfield on level 200, the WestJet Flight Deck has been refreshed with retro arcade games, a DJ booth, and new menu items. Table top curling remains a favorite here. “The Westjet flight deck was one of the most popular areas in the building, so it was certainly one of the reasons we had to say there was demand for it,” said Anuk Karunartane, executive vice president of business, Blue Jays operations.
Table Curling on the WestJet Flight Deck, photograph by Craig White
The Park Social, towering over left field on Level 500, was the next stop, delivering a new family-focused community space inspired by Toronto’s great parks. This “neighborhood” enjoys a two-story layout that offers casual seating and standing on the lower level, while the upper level takes it a step further. With features like lawns, baseball video game stations, Instagram-able “swings” and family games like Corn Hole, Giant Jenga and Connect Four, the upper level of Park Social adds another dimension to the baseball game experience.
The Park Social, area with games and family activities at 500 level, photo by Matias Bessai
Finally, the tour ended above right field on the Corona Rooftop Patio. Also located on the 500th floor, the space offers the coveted rooftop bar experience with expansive standing room and views of the stadium—as well as the skyline when the roof is open. Slatted wood paneling clads the walls, while artificial plants and warm lighting fixtures attempt to create a more intimate and authentic atmosphere on the rooftop.
The Corona Rooftop Lounge, inspired by Toronto rooftops, with large standing room, image by Matias Bessai
Discussing the new fan experience offerings at the Rogers Center, Karunartane said, “I guarantee there will be people who will come here and spend the whole game walking through all these rooms, maybe not even seeing a single pitch.” Around everyone To experience the Outfield District’s new facilities, fans only need to purchase a $20 admission ticket that allows them to move between them with no guaranteed seating. However, fans who have purchased tickets for any seat in the Rogers Center can also visit all the Outfield District offerings.
Aside from the new outfield district, one of the major changes to the stadium was the increase in bullpens for home and away games (the warm-up area for pitchers). The adjustment brings the bullpens squarely in line with surrounding viewers, as part of a larger effort to help fans feel more connected to the players. Because Rogers Center was built as a multipurpose stadium and not solely as a baseball venue, changes like these are critical for the Blue Jays organization to create a more fan-friendly experience.
Raised bullpens bring fans closer to home and away players, image by Matias Bessai
The home bullpen above left field is pictured above, surrounded by 100-story seats; As previously mentioned, next to the visitors’ bullpen, above right field, is the new “Rogers Landing” which provides a walk-through way of observing the action in this pen.
Work will resume next off-season when the second phase of the level 100 update kicks off, with a focus on improvements to seating, particularly in relation to sightlines. Other changes include updates to player facilities, the introduction of new amenities such as yoga and meditation rooms, demonstrating the commitment to the player experience. For now, however, all eyes are on the new Outfield District, and with the Jays’ first home game just five days away, baseball fans will soon be able to experience it firsthand.
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more from our database file linked below. If you wish, you can join the discussion in the dedicated project forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on metro Toronto development projects from concept to completion. We also offer instant reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that follows projects from the first application.
| Affiliates: |
Priestly Demolition Inc. |