Are the Blue Jays Trapped in Rogers Centre?

[@Maapify]

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[@anonymousYTviewer69]

so ....rogers center goes through renovations, and still needs to be replaced. O. Co in oakland DOESNT get renovations and people say it should have been to save it from the current s**t condition i guess every 20-25 years just terar down stadiums and build a new one????

[@keithhosannah3022]

The best part of Roger's Centre is its central location. Unless Toronto builds up a second central hub location by the Port Lands or along Harbourfront, moving anywhere else in the city would be a downgrade.

[@breezyrides6829]

the harbourfront developed properly would blow the downtown core out of the water as much as i love the skydome its time to move on. ironically i will never move on from its original name. a new stadium would be great for the city. i want to watch the jays at a real baseball park, and not exhibition stadium haha, that was awful

[@kirbyr558]

This is very true, the location is perfect and within walking distance of transit that will bring in fans from anywhere. There are bars, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions EVERYWHERE.

[@dontpanic716]

Exactly this. Same in Vancouver, our big and old stadium was not perfect but to upgrade and keep it was 100x better then trying to build a new one far from the downtown and the central transit hubs.

[@steverabideau3779]

They just spent a ton of money on upgrades it's not going anywhere for 20 yrs

[@danerook]

​@@breezyrides6829It is a real park.

[@Matt-oq4jq]

The modern age of disposable stadiums is a travesty - the Skydome is monumental architecture and deserves the love and care not afforded to other old ballparks across the decades. It’s still a great place to catch a game!

[@martytu20]

The biggest problem with the Skydome is its inability to support natural grass due to drainage issues. Natural grass is far more preferable to artificial turf for baseball.

[@fries2112]

Disposable stadiums. I was thinking Texas Rangers. I swear they only played at the last stadium for 15 years and were already building another one…

[@jakestar121]

@@martytu20Natural grass is preferable. However with all the brand new ballparks like Texas and conversions to turf (like AZ and MIA), this isn’t an issue unique to older ballparks like the Rogers Centre

[@AEMoreira81]

@@fries2112 -- The main issue with the Texas Rangers was the brutal North Texas summers. In a state where school buses are air-conditioned, a retractable roof is a must.

[@davidlafleche1142]

Foxboro Stadium wasn't exactly a pleasure palace, but it lasted 30 years.

[@karlwithakcomedy]

Rogers Centre is in such a convenient location, that’s the hard part

[@ElWagonne]

Yep kinda reminds me of the Superdome in my home state.

[@tevster1316]

This. Getting there is so easy. Moving anywhere else would be a downgrade

[@LeBasketballGuy]

It feels too soon right now after they just did it, but down the road you can 100% justify playing games in Buffalo again while it gets built, like late '30s or something.

[@mikeyjames]

Exactly. People in this country get too caught up in what’s in the US without understanding many of those cities don’t have the weather we have. I keep seeing people begging for a ball parks but who wants to sit in the c old to watch baseball ? We have a lot of older fans and kids that go to games. We just need to keep upgrading the Rogers center and the next step should be the roof and the outside of the building. Maybe add some kind of modern roof system that let’s in sunlight even when it’s closed and cold outside so we can still have an outdoor feel. Sooner or later technology will allow them to have real grass in there.

[@Arkiasis]

Yep, it's super easy to take the go train or subway to a game. Transit connectivity is vital to a stadium. The worst stadiums are those surrounded by parking lots.

[@genoesposito2895]

I feel like the Sky Dome should be their forever home

[@noaho8457]

It should

[@michaeladams5636]

It was dated by 1995 and they should have built a new stadium by 2010. Toronto fans deserve so much better than a round circle 1970s looking piece of junk..

[@rlwelch]

Definitely should be

[@S.L.1211]

@@michaeladams5636nope

[@C-mac_in_the_6ix]

@@michaeladams5636 One of the few sensible comments I've read on here.

[@racingphotographer8251]

Remember, SkyDome was built by Ontario taxpayers for $500M, stolen by Rogers for $25M.

[@marklittle8805]

It was not stolen. Our government masters were idiots or selling it to them with a nod and a wink

[@johnfitzgerald7618]

Rogers pretty well paid what it was worth. The real villain of the piece is Bill Davis, premier of Ontario, whose financial arrangements for the project were enormously profitable for his corporate buddies and disastrous for the taxpayers

[@PenskePC17]

Really? How did they manage to keep the name this entire time?

[@marklittle8805]

@@johnfitzgerald7618 I would say you are a fool if you think that. The reality is the taxpayers paid to build it, and after a decade or so of ownership the Province decided to sell it because they didn't want to run it through the Crown Corp they created to operate it. They bragged about how busy the building was and how well it was doing and then sold it off. So clearly that is where you need to look at the books. That was in 99.

[@johnfitzgerald7618]

@marklittle8805 I think you have misinterpreted me, perhaps because I was unclear. Anyway, Bill Davis set things up so the taxpayers' costs were inflated (not tendering, negotiating agreements that would assign additional costs to the province etc.). He also gave away 99-year advertising rights to his corporate buddies for a pittance, slashing possible revenue. The province, after a change of government, sold it in 1994 after paying off its debt just to get the ever-increasing debt off its books. The stadium eventually filed for bankruptcy protection in 1998 after Skybox rentals plummeted. It was bought by Sportco for $80 million, who sold the hotel to Renaissance and the stadium back to the Jays (owned by Rogers). The Jays probably made $10 million or so, but that's tiny compared to the damage Davis did . Rogers is certainly responsible for the subsequent naming rights sale to itself, poor teams, driving out the Argos, etc., but Bill Davis is the author of Skydome's misfortunes. [Correction: As lesktube has pointed out below, Davis resigned, and his successor lost an election, before contracts were negotiated. So David Peterson was responsible for the contracts. ]

[@codywanschura3824]

Didn’t this stadium just undergo $400 million in renovations over the last 2 years now and this will give another 10-15 years of life to the stadium

[@reshanazeez9320]

dont tell that to this guy, he’ll convince you those are cosmetic repairs

[@rlebz]

Yep. It’s awesome

[@ms22784]

​@@reshanazeez9320They are just cosmetic. Just more corporate branding and new paint

[@terrycullen3302]

I'm fairly certain this video says as much.

[@terrycullen3302]

@@reshanazeez9320 They are cosmetic repairs. Even Mark Shapiro has admitted, publicly, that the renovations were a bandaid solution, a way of postponing an eventual move out of the stadium.

[@sblack53]

The arguments in this video make no sense. There are literally neighborhoods surrounding Rogers Centre in every direction. The John St Roundhouse has The Rec Room as well as a railway museum and the Steam Whistle Brewery, Ripley’s Aquarium and CN Tower are next door, there are bars and restaurants a block east on Bremner, across the bridge on Front Street, and up John Street. The nerve center of transit for all of Greater Toronto, Union Station, is a short walk away, and has its own amenities. There are hotels built in and a short walk away. Rogers Centre will not be replaced.

[@eshep71]

They just mean a 'neighborhood area' that the team owns. I think they proposed a plan, about a decade ago, to put a cover over the train tracks to create walkable space that could hold restaurants and such.

[@gagehamser3514]

Yeah this guys talking out of his ass

[@AEMoreira81]

I have to wonder about the area around the Downsview Airport site. The airfield that previously built the Dash 8 has closed and is being demolished for redevelopment.

[@ryansmith8]

Rogers doesn't own Ripley's Aquarium, The Rec Room, the CN Tower, the hotels, or any of the bars and restaurants in the surrounding area. And it didn't get to develop the residential condos and sell the units. Rogers wants to build condos it can sell, hotels it owns, bars and restaurants that it owns or that lease directly from them, and so on. He says it very clearly in the video.

[@repatch43]

The whole video makes no sense, feels more like propaganda than anything else

[@Lesifvar]

Fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

[@michaeladams5636]

They have the third worst stadium in the majors..

[@bluemori2822]

@@michaeladams5636according to who? Not Torontonians lmao

[@michaeladams5636]

@@bluemori2822 look at it from the outside it’s a round stadium, enough said.

[@0fficialdregs]

@@bluemori2822 and because it was multi use the stands were to far from the field.

[@DissonanceDave]

@@michaeladams5636 Did you know that 73.6% of all statistics are made up by you?

[@twilightofthegods33]

Rogers just spent $400 mil on renovations and upgrades. This venue will be home of the Jays for decades to come for better or worse

[@SaintNormRIP]

Correction: Joe Carter hit the second ever World series clinching Home Run. Bill Mazeroski hit the only other one in game 7 of the 1960 World Series. That game was tied. Joe’s was the only one hit while his team was behind.

[@terencehill2320]

he might as well delete this video and reedit it, there are a TON of mistakes on this. It is as bad as that Aussie's breakdancing performance in the Olympics.

[@mattglynne]

I used to work inside the SkyDome for a broadcast company. Our office was inside for nearly 30 years but Rogers kicked us out in the fall of 2023 in order to make place for an entire brand new players lounge. I don’t believe the Jays are leaving the SkyDome anytime soon- and I hope they never do. It’s an iconic building.

[@C-mac_in_the_6ix]

It 's an icon alright, and iconic POS.

[@billyehh]

@@C-mac_in_the_6ix Fine. You can stay home. I don't think that they will miss you. Most comments seem to like it.

[@C-mac_in_the_6ix]

@@billyehh good one!!! What amazing come back!!

[@billyehh]

@@C-mac_in_the_6ix It is all opinion. You have yours, but most commentators here don't agree with you. After enduring Exhibition Stadium, I do not want to be in an outdoor stadium. I do miss the $7.00 seats behind home plate in 1977.

[@C-mac_in_the_6ix]

@@billyehh Go look at any baseball park rankings and you will skydome is always near the bottom. You can build nice retro looking ballparks with retractable roofs like Houston and Seattle without the thing looking like an egg. The thing is a big concrete souless bunker.

[@iancypes5911]

What happened to staying in a ballpark for more than 30 years? Fenway and Wrigley have "charm" from what would be unforgivable flaws in a new stadium

[@LIL-MAN_theOG]

Bruh, I visited Skydome when it was new when I was in 7th grade. I am now 53...the Jay's need a new place. And Skydome is not as charming as Wrigley, it's more like Minneapolis' old dome... Cmon now

[@Allister2000]

@@LIL-MAN_theOG I think you got your dates wrong. The stadium was opened in '89. You are 53 now which means you were born in '71 and you were 18 when it opened. I guess you're a bit of a late bloomer being 18 in 7th grade. Regardless, I disagree with your sentiment on not being charming. Yeah its got a lot of dull grey concrete and considered ugly to some. But I grew up going to Jays games at this stadium and it has a lot of sentiment and charm to me.

[@cliffcaverley2377]

@@LIL-MAN_theOGRegardless, it’s much better compared to the old Exhibition Stadium with poor seating in some areas way past the outfield wall

[@jadeng.s.2549]

Yeah, there’s nothing really wrong with Rogers Center, especially with the renovations while Fenway is a literal eyesore on modern baseball

[@KiddeeKush]

@@jadeng.s.2549but it’s an artifact

[@darylwizzard5832]

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with the Sky dome its still a great stadium.

[@dcb113]

Good one!

[@WrestlinGifs]

lol no

[@AaronTheGreat________]

Lmao really😂

[@phtyoscrubs]

I really hope it doesnt get demolished. My dad actually was one of the ironworkers helping build the scaffolting when the skydome was first built. It means more too becasue my grandfather was also helping construct the cn tower

[@ashermccready]

Same here, my grandpa designed the rails for the roof!

[@johntate3750]

Multi-use stadium ... You forgot to mention that the Toronto Raptors played their first 2 seasons inside the Skydome as well. I don't think Rogers Centre will ever be looked upon with the reverence of Fenway or Wrigley, but I agree that it's too much of a part of the skyline of the city to demolish it and build something new or as iconic.

[@matv90]

I visited the Skydome for my first time for Canada Day in 2016. Saw two games there by myself, traveling from California. I had such a great experience and loved the ballpark even then. I can't imagine how much more the upgrades add to.thr aesthetic experience watching a game now, but I hope the Skydome stay our home for the Blue Jays for several more decades.

[@menzel17]

Yes its old, but i think the Skydomes only issue at this point is theres basically been no changes to the exterior. The recent renovation made it baseball only, added more clubs, and increased the fan experience. The outside however is still just beige concrete. If they did some exterior work, maybe it wouldnt feel so outdated

[@nicholasgignac7065]

Who cares about the extior?

[@eshep71]

I live north of Toronto, so a stadium closer to downsview would be more convenient..but that would be stupid. The dome is iconic.

[@cliffcaverley2377]

That’s where Mel Lastman originally wanted the stadium built during 1984. There were signs “North York. Home of the Dome!”

[@michaeladams5636]

Yeah but dated by 1995 always had great memories there but Toronto fans deserve so much better. Rogers Centre beats Oakland and Tampa Bays stadium but that’s it.

[@Maapify]

CORRECTION: Joe Carter's walk-off home run was the only ever come-from-behind HR to clinch the world series

[@Seriously_Unserious]

Yup, the other one being Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates in the 1960 world series, winning game 7 in an upset for the Pirates at home. I remember that Joe Carter homer, was watching the game live on TV and it was only the 2nd time a team I cheered for had won a championship while I was watching. the other being the 1992 victory. I would get to see it again in 1994 when I was in BC Place for the Lions' win over Blatamore for the Grey Cup. That was unreal, getting to see our boys win it in person! Saw the Canucks crash the party on the Rangers the June before too, as I got tickets to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. The early 90s were a good period for sports teams I cheered for.

[@ceave]

and 1994 was not a lock out, it was a STRIKE.

[@zen_XIII]

Pause the video and was quickly on my way to say bill mazeroski!! lol. Kudos for the correction

[@johnnyassman2610]

I hate stupid people. Especially stupid, lazy people. Every Jays fan and every baseball fan knows Mazeroski. Imo this error is unfortunately unforgivable. Thumb down

[@andyl336]

Bill Mazeroski’s 1960 World Series game seven walk off would like a word…

[@BendyDH]

it's pretty much all but confirmed that Mazeroski's Home Run is statistically the greatest single hit in MLB history and from one of the most unlikely hitters as well

[@thomasmurray3920]

Max’s HR did not result in a cone from behind victory. The Yankees had just tied the score at 9-9 in the top of the inning, so his game-winning HR only broke the tie.

[@kirkdooley8190]

Nowadays, if it doesn't have videotape of an event (black and white movies or kinescopes don't count), it never happened in theeyes of most followers of KZbin. This is why you never hear of Jim Thorpe or Jesse Owens.

[@LexTan]

The creator issued a correction at the top of the comments section.

[@andyl336]

@@LexTanyeah the creator did it after I posted.

[@wilderac2250]

You forgot about the renovations they had to do when a 50ft giant red panda almost destroyed the facility back in 2002. (If anyone gets that reference, more power to you)

[@PaulC112]

😂😂

[@creedencebakken2686]

Yessir 😂😂

[@FigureFarter]

All because of a band with an unlucky number

[@paulholowatenko1304]

I’ve never once thought that the multi-purpose design detracted from the experience at all. It’s nostalgic, I don’t think it’s outdated enough yet to justify rebuilding it or moving elsewhere.

[@PenskePC17]

They should just update it, it's unique. I'm only 34 and the fact that only a few stadiums outside Wrigley and Fenway still exist from when I was a kid is pretty upsetting.

[@BestKeptSecretsRaps]

Agreed as someone who has been to many new stadiums (Att in Dallas, allegiant in Vegas and sofi in LA) this stadium has its charm, its location does so much for it as well

[@michaeladams5636]

Bud it was dated by 1995.. they built it just before they started building nice retro ballparks. The Rogers Centre was built just a little too early they should have built something that actually looks like a nice ballpark like Seattles Safeco Field.

[@wilfstor3078]

"Limited in what they can do outside of Rogers Center" I'm sorry, I work in a small chicken restaurant in the train station and I can safely say, the station becomes an extension of the dome during game days, our bartender has their work cut out for them, and the Jays even share a large gift shop with the Leafs in the station, they couldn't have a better location

[@TMBpk]

Blue Jays fans don’t even realise that their stadium has become a classic stadium in its own right. It’s the oldest park and the one of the only remaining “multipurpose” domed stadiums remaining in the MLB. If I’m the Jays front office, I keep the stadium since it in itself will become a rare gem in the MLB. The interior and exterior can all be upgraded and renovated, but don’t leave that location or stadium. The Jays will regret it.

[@EricPeltz-or9oh]

The Oakland Coliseum is also multi purpose

[@Roller11111]

​@@EricPeltz-or9oh Oakland's stadium is severely outdated. The Skydome has been through a few major renovations and looks great.

[@EricPeltz-or9oh]

@@Roller11111 the only “renovation “ the Oakland Collusion got was 30 years ago when Mount Davis which was a major downgrade as it is has tarp on the seats and is never used and an eyesore

[@billyfouronesix]

It hasn't been a multipurpose facility for a few years now. The lower bowl seats are "as is" making it impossible to change to a football field.

[@damiant.mccalman8123]

I've never been to Toronto but I hope that if the Red Sox, Dodgers and Cubs can make their stadiums work then why can't the Blue Jays. Dodger Stadium doesn't have that neighborhood district around it yet it stays the place to be for L.A. baseball fans. I live in L.A. so I know this to be true. The Sky Dome (Roger Centre) is just fine.

[@retrowarehouse2554]

I think the Dodgers can use a new location and stadium, it's not a beautiful stadium like Fenway and Wrigley are. Angel Stadium looks better and it's in a better location next to Disneyland.

[@americangiant1003]

Damian as an US Resident now living in Upstate New York (about 6-7 hour drive from Toronto) I been to a game at Skydome/Rogers Center a couple of times. One during the Blue Jays championship era in the early 1990s. Another in 2019. Best part of the facility is access via mass transit ie Toronto Subway or regional rail line and a couple of highways that can take you as far as Buffalo/Niagara Falls and Windsor, Ontario/Detroit. In the end at the earliest a new Blue Jays ballpark will open is mid century ie 2040s/2050s.

[@martytu20]

@@retrowarehouse2554 Dodger Stadium is a classic, but they don’t own the parking lots surrounding the stadium. Frank McCourt can charge an arm and leg for parking there since LA is car dependent.

[@retrowarehouse2554]

@@martytu20 It is classic, but very ugly looking as well. I think the Dodgers need to look into owning their own land around the ballpark because like you said they don't own the parking lot which is usually a huge revenue stream for teams. LA being car dependent is a bonus for parking lot boost. LA should really look for a different area to build a new ballpark and own the land surrounding it which would help them make even more money than they're already making now, especially off that TV deal.

[@michaeladams5636]

I never liked the Rogers Centre (especially for baseball)

[@DJMasse]

4 minutes in and there’s quite a few factual errors.

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

recent renovations solved line-of-sight issues

[@terencehill2320]

definitely he fucked up on the 1960 walk off home run to win that world series

[@mattfrommo2483]

Also, 1994 was a strike, not a lockout

[@AaronTheGreat________]

Aren’t we glad we have keyboard experts😂

[@fjcrod]

The recent renos have made the Dome a pretty damn good ballpark. It's perfectly located downtown with bars and restaurants minutes away. About the only thing missing now is real grass. You can't beat the CNTower/Dome combo. Two icons, side by side.

[@jackolantern22]

This stuff drives me nuts. It’s a unique park with creative, original features…and yet somehow the team wants to be incur a couple billion for a new one.

[@ccudmore]

During its construction, I had an office that overlooked the site (151 Front W). It was amazing to watch it rise up out of the ground and take shape. The cranes used to lift the roof into place were crazy.

[@Evan-hockputer]

I don't see why they need to relocate

[@samelmudir]

they just spent $300 mil on renovations. they are staying there for another 20 years

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

It's because the Blue Jays don't own the location surrounding the stadium... The A's were first looking at a 50 acre site in Vegas to build their 16 acre ballpark on. What would they do with the other 34? Stores, apartments, and offices. It should be noted that the Braves made $50 million in revenue off The Battery (their mall as you enter through the outfield).

[@scottmcrae3355]

It’s a really nice ballpark these days. Let it be.

[@Evan-hockputer]

@@scottmcrae3355 Thank you

[@Dexter037S4]

@@HHSGDFootballJPD Rogers owns the Blue Jays, Rogers owns the land.

[@NHLCrazy2007]

Look, I understand that the Blue Jays have never been in a traditional ballpark complete with natural grass and the kinds of features you see elsewhere around baseball except obviously Tropicana Field, but Rogers Centre just got a significant renovation over the past 2 years as mentioned in your video. I just don't see the Blue Jays leaving that venue for a long time. I don't know what future facility would set a new standard in ballparks as SkyDome did when it opened back in 1989. Even more so with all the hurdles to clear just to finalize a plan let alone build a replacement. New York City is the worst when it comes how incredibly slow it takes to build large scale projects. I won't be surprised if it takes 20 years before we could see the Jays in a new ballpark.

[@jakestar121]

Being a die hard Jays fan and familiar with the media and insiders surrounding the team and their front office. Since the renovations there hasn’t really been any mention nor suggestion of a future ballpark home, let alone with in the next 10 years. Most Torontonians love the new renovations to the place, and I guarantee you that it would be a deeply unpopular move to substantially change the location of the building to somewhere else like in the east Portlands. There really isn’t an issue with the current layout at all now. The only thing that might need fixing in the future is the retractable roof and that could probably be accomplished via a renovation during a single offseason or two (in multiple stages) when the time comes. There’s also plenty of bars and tourist destination sites within proximity of the ballpark (including the CN tower and Ripleys) that having a custom built “neighbourhood district” elsewhere is not something that the fans are asking for. What Jays fans would LOVE are better transit connections directly to the stadiums location. It’s about a 15-minute walk to Union station and the GO trains, subways etc are always packed to the brim with Jays fans since most take public transit to the games. As RMTransit has suggested in some of his videos, an infill GO Station at Spadina along the Union Station corridor would help provide further transit support for the condos and shops in that area of downtown Toronto, while also relieving Union Station of handling most of the immediate congestion that comes from tens of thousands of Jays fans entering and leaving the stadium. All-in-all, solid video! 👍

[@michaeladams5636]

Blue Jays have needed a new stadium since 2010 as it was dated by 1994 or 1995.

[@C-mac_in_the_6ix]

As a "die hard" jays fan and someone that is "familiar with the media and insiders", you have no idea what your talking about.

[@jakestar121]

@@C-mac_in_the_6ixbrilliant response! you’ve changed my mind

[@RetroWinnipeg]

There are bars and shops relatively close to the stadium for your pre and post game needs. But the stadium is centered in a “touristy” district.

[@scentgrasslakerailway]

Good presentation, but one huge historical error made at roughly 1:45. Toronto's Joe Carter was the second to win a World Series with a home run in Game 6 over Philadephia (1993). Pittsburgh Pirates' Bill Mazeroski hit a home run to defeat the New York Yankees for the first ever home run to win a World Series (1960) and, as yet, the only accomplished in Game 7.

[@Cammmsmmmith]

Thanks for posting this, I’ll be going to SkyDome this Friday! I’ll relay your message to anyone willing to listen😉

[@fighterck6241]

The Yankees should have never moved out of Yankee Stadium. There. I said it. Be careful what you wish for.

[@hustlla]

I was there on Thursday and the renovations in the lower level are great, sat in section 134 3rd baseline. The view of the CN Tower (when the roof is open) from my seat is absolutely incredible, no other stadium can compete except for PNC Park. With the planned Union Park and almost completed Concord Canada House also the new TD Building the views will be even more spectacular. The location, public transportation, attractions, parking, restaurants, hotels, harbourfront etc are a short walk. Rogers Centre is iconic to the Toronto skyline, I don't ever see the team moving from here.

[@fairfaxcat1312]

New stadiums aren’t sloped sharply enough. Everyone has to sit too far away.

[@johnsaville9210]

I have attended baseball games from Boston to SF and the Roger's Center is a great place to watch baseball. Aging stadium? See Boston and Chicago. Having sat in the rain and cold of other stadiums I appreciate the dome and love that it's retractable. The recent upgrades have improved the stadium's fan experience. Why move on from a perfectly good stadium?

[@marklittle8805]

The Jays don't have to move at all. As long as the fans come and pay the ridiculous prices being asked for, then what are you gaining with a new stadium? Would you love to have an old school park with a retractable roof? Sure but 500 million to 1 billion dollar cost isnt going to be made back. The Dome has been around so long that it is now part of the Toronto experience and the interior now is up to where it should be. Is it perfect? No. But it is home if the team is run properly. Toronto fans want to win...they want the Jays logo to remain what it is, they want the team to be a player for free agents and they want to compete. If management doesnt do those things, no stadium will work

[@jeffbell9391]

Are you talking about the leafs because the average ticket price is just under three hundred dollars a seat .So since Shanahan has been president it has cost you 250,000 dollars for a pair of tickets for ten years since the Shanahan team has been running things.

[@krisrizakis9989]

Thanks!

[@himynameisbrianw]

Keep it! Old is good, the roof is amazing, and living in Toronto a new stadium would never complete itself, we cannot even finish a Light Rail Transit system, 15 years into the project.

[@Maze-tx7ef]

You should do a video on the Ottawa Senators search for a new arena and the current one

[@marblox9300]

As a Chicago Guy - there will only ever be one Canadien team. The Montreal Expos at Parc Jarry.

[@mattmcrae1458]

Rogers Centre is awesome you have a wonderful of the world and you want it replaced? Pay out of pocket yourself. Stop trying to push it in the trash dump. 🤬

[@Shawn-Leider]

Exactly I’m so sick of these idiots

[@cjhan9816]

TO needs an NFL franchise.

[@nickdacosta5086]

I think this will be their home for decades to come. Focusing on renovations to the inside-the-park experience first will drive necessary revenue gains for team competitiveness and support for funding future enhancements to the exterior of the dome to focus on street-level experiences which will then drive further private investment and neighbourhood integrations.

[@billyehh]

There is no room for any street level experiences. The old railway lands are built up with condos, the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium.

[@Mooseskull]

The bars at the upgraded parts are really nice

[@JamieCallingham-cj8yz]

Ha, good look finding a better location.

[@joshuapatrick682]

Crazy how much a city’s skyline can change in 30 years, maybe it’s the cynic in me that just sees it as the inevitable domination of our cities by corporations.

[@coltonyesney]

Been to Rogers Centre 3 times. Can’t imagine them tearing it down as the location and the overall ballpark experience I think is one of the best in the league

[@adamhustler3639]

@2:39 .. I don't understand the critique of "too distant from the action", complaining about a few extra feet when the alternative is watch it on the tv .. if you wanna do that instead, go for it, lol.

[@jasonkoch3182]

The renovations buy probably 10 years to come up with a new stadium plan. I don't want to see the Jays leave SkyDome, er, Rogers Centre, but everything has a shelf life and the building itself has likely 15 years left. So by the early to mid 2030s, I expect there to be plans for a new stadium ready to go and the team to be playing in it by 2040. And that would be very nice, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the stadium in its final year.

[@Shawn-Leider]

Wym that would be nice no it wouldn’t your clearly not even a sports fan. No fan wants there history torn down. It’s always sad. The place can be remodeled like Fenway and lambeau. Tearing down these places every 25 years is so dumb. I’m so sick of this line of thinking that people want new stadiums. NO WE DONT. WE WANT THE SAME PLACE WHERE OUR HEROS SPANKED A GAME A 7 WALK OFF OR A PITCHED A HISTORIC NONO. Go look at Baltimore or Fenway or lambeau. They are beautiful sites with the richest history. That’s how this needs to be handled everywhere

[@Dept246]

The renovations mean the Blue Jays will be there for another 20-30 years. Biggest problem with new stadium will be location and the tremendous cost.

[@obroni]

The SkyDome/Rogers Centre is fine. Updates over the years have mostly kept-up with the demand for new experiences. The push for redevelopment is focused on one thing only: reducing the footprint of the stadium so that more cookie-cutter condo and apartment buildings can be built on the site. It's a cash-grab, pure and simple.

[@famitory]

my workplace regularily contracts for the skydome so i'm all for it staying alive in perpetuity! the recent round of renovations essentially paid my bills last winter.

[@liamcrothers8896]

The timing of SkyDome’s opening is just a few years before the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which is heralded as the first park in the ‘retro’ movement that swept the league. As a frequenter of the SkyDome and a traveling baseball fan, it is a relic of a bygone era that is amongst the most synthetic fan experiences a baseball fan can have. It will always feel like baseball in a stadium instead of a ballpark.

[@billyehh]

How come attendance in 2023 for Baltimore was under 2 million while Rogers Centre was over 3 million. Camden Yards is supposed to be superior and the Oriole's a better team.

[@liamcrothers8896]

@@billyehh Couple of factors here, like the Jays being Canada’s only team so people from across the country will come to games where Baltimore is within an hour from both Washington and Philly which means Toronto is the only baseball ticket in town. My point is still that I would trade the Rogers Centre for about 27 other ballparks if I had the chance. It only really clears Oakland, Tampa, and Southside Chicago imo.

[@billyehh]

@@liamcrothers8896 That will make up some, but not more than a million, let alone the crappy team. As a survivor of April games at Exhibition Stadium, I never want to go back to an outdoor stadium. I just can't see them justifying the expense. The cost of demolition and building a new stadium now would be in excess of 2.5 Billion dollars.

[@jameschampken770]

​​​@@billyehhBaltimore City Population 565,000. Baltimore Metro area 2.8 Million. Baltimore is also only less then 1 hour drive to Washington DC who also have a MLB Baseball team. Toronto City Population 2.9 million. Toronto GTA Population 6.4 million. If you were to include a even larger area like the Golden Horse Shoe Population is 9.2 million. This is a large area with only 1 pro Baseball team. You could even argue some people from across Canada will come to Toronto for a Baseball game to support the Jays. Toronto has a large populated area with only 1 team. Baltimore smaller city, also 50 mins drive to Washington & 1 hour & 40 mins from Philadelphia. Toronto to Niagra Falls is 1 hour 15 mins, and all Jays territory. Also, Baltimore City doesn't have the wealth Toronto does. Baltimore is more of a blue collar working class type of city. It's had a lot of issues with poverty & crime in recent decades.

[@billyehh]

All very true. If Rogers want a new stadium, then go ahead. They have just spent $300 million in renovations so I don't think so. Maybe in a couple of decades. And then it's on their dime, no government money, period, end of story.

[@Big_Tall_In_Short]

I barely care about sports any more but I could watch these videos on stadiums all day. Great channel love the subject matter focus

[@craigmartyn1279]

1:45 Bill Mzeroski, walk off, 1960, Game 7. Just quibbling

[@danielwarren3138]

Innit

[@Christian_Martel]

That stadium still has many years to come. Lots of energy, fun and ambiance. The place to be in T.O.

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

The Toronto Raptors played at the Skydome 1995-1999. They moved into a shared facility Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) with the Toronto Maple Leafs

[@jonathanbrown8733]

The Ad-drop in this video was FLAWLESS

[@RandomAssist]

Just visited the Centre on a road trip to Toronto, and I found it surprisingly modern given its age and status as one of the last multipurpose stadiums. Had no idea how recent some of the amenities I saw were! If I were the Blue Jays, I would just keep tinkering and upgrading RC. It's a great ballpark, coming from someone who has been to the retro-modern parks like Citi Field, Great American, and PNC Park.

[@RSanchez111]

I hope to visit the Rogers Centre someday soon. I just love the idea of watching a baseball game from my hotel balcony.

[@lildurpy]

THE SKYDOME is the best venue I've ever been at. Was fortunate through my godfather to have tickets for the playoffs when Bautista hit the batflip homerun. After that game, I'd say it's the most electric stadium in all of North America. I think it should stay. Like Madison Square Garden, there's something to be said for history sometimes with these things.

[@The_Zilli]

As a Canadian, Ill say this with as close to 100% assurance as one can be and that is that the Rogers Center aka SkyDome will not be torn down. We're talking about a country that has yet to tear down the Olympic Stadium out in Montreal and that monstrousity now cost 2b to demolish, let alone replace it with another stadium. The only way another major league ballpark is built in the Greater Toronto Area is if there's a new team in the area that isn't the Blue Jays and the chances of that happening are zero.

[@BigIronEnjoyer]

The Sky Dome, when it was built, weirdly straddled two eras of stadium building. Going back to the late 50s, stadiums had often been built with both baseball and football in mind. They also tended to be built way out on the edges of cities, rather than within cities as they had been earlier in the 20th century. They tended to all be pretty cookie cutter in design too, just these huge bowls that all looked basically the same from the inside. RFK Stadium in DC, Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, old Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. Even the early fixed domes were basically the same thing just with a roof - Superdome in New Orleans, Astrodome in Houston, Silverdome in Detroit, Metrodome in Minneapolis, Kingdome in Seattle. If you removed the team logos and painted them all the same color, you would be hard pressed to tell which one you were in. They did have some distinguishing features from the outside, but inside it was almost entirely the same. The Sky Dome did much the same thing, but it did at least have a little bit of flourish on the inside, with the hotel and everything. But it also kind of restored the idea of building a stadium right in the heart of a city. If they'd done things how others had been doing them for the last 30 years, they'd have built the stadium out in Brampton or Vaughan or some place. Instead its right down town, literally next door to the main train station. In the years following its construction, you saw a bunch more stadium take the same tack. Built into the city, not outside it. But, those newer stadiums also moved back to having unique, iconic designs, starting with Camden Yards.

[@terencehill2320]

1:44 are you F'ing kidding me. You forgot 1960 and Pittsburgh's walk off to win that World Series.

[@tylerturnage]

Actually the first WS walkoff clinching HR was by Bill Mazeroski in gm 7 1960 PIT vs NYY. Carter in 1993 was the 2nd WS clinching HR.

[@daifeichu]

With Union Station just down the street it makes sense to keep it in its current location. More attractions right outside the stadium would be nice for those of use who arrive early and don't want to go inside right away.

[@fantasyEXX]

Skydome is my favorite stadium I visited in MLB outside California. It is so awesome to sit under the CN Tower on a warm summer night with the roof open and enjoying the game

[@ChaseL.Révilien]

I believe the ultimate solution is for a ROGERS (and perhaps additional partners) bid for an NFL franchise as the 4th largest market in North America and then a temporary facility with 25k seating for the time being in the Port Lands/Quayside area for the Jays to play in while the Dome is demolished and rebuilt with a retractable roof/grass field solution with neighborhoods. Then the Jays can return to Rogers SkyDome 2.0 and the Quayside temp facility can be finished off as 60k-80k NFL stadium. Or maybe the NFL team takes the Rogers site and the Jays stay at Quayside. Either way on a side note, I think like London UK or even Niagara Falls ON, the waterfront skyline by the CN Tower could also use a ferris wheel. Whatever is newly built at the current Rogers Centre should keep some iteration of the iconic skyline with the new roof visible next to the CN Tower.

[@freeman4755]

Sort of relating to the video overall; I really hated how the Jays Corporation, Rogers, and everyone else involved in the renovation treated the stuff being removed from the stadium. Decades of baseball history were sent to the dump. The biggest sin was them throwing away all of the old seats from the Rogers Centre and sending them to landfill, rather than doing some process where they sold them or gave them away to people that wanted to keep baseball history with them. Stadium seats from the actual Rogers Centre would've been the perfect fit for people's man-caves and she-sheds that loved the Blue Jays. They could've done some kind of fundraiser for the Jays Care Foundation or something, but no, instead they paid people to take them away, and then paid people again to send it all to landfill.

[@larrybethune3909]

What would I like to see in a new ballpark? Lower ticket prices and a club that values seasons ticket holders.

[@IROCQUE]

Remove the hotel all together in the outfield and have an open view to outside like the other baseball stadiums in the US. This will bring the open modern concept that's been missing in the Rogers Centre. Also, have parts of the retractable roof transparent to bring in more light on certain areas on the field that are covered when the roof is opened.

[@jaykomedia9005]

They will tear literally anything down in Toronto for condos. It's disgusting

[@youbetcha6880]

Anybody who complains about SkyDome isn't old enough to remember Exhibition Stadium. Of the MLB stadiums I've visited, the Nationals' was nice but surrounded by nothing, the White Sox was great with its own restaurant but straddled on a highway, yet Wrigley Field is beautifully surrounded by dense buildings and restaurants. Camden Yards is great in Baltimore's harbour.

[@ryanstrnad8442]

1:45 I think this was the 2nd World Series clinching walk off home run. Something about Pittsburgh in 1960 comes to mind.

[@DoomSlug78]

when you changed the dome to just skyscrapers, I shuddered at the thought of that happening.

[@DBruceAllen]

This is one of the most most ridiculous proposals I have ever heard!

[@shaun_fergusson_photography]

Imagine if banks and large corporations demolished and rebuilt their downtown towers every 10-15 years because functionally there’s nothing wrong, but God damn the paint is so last decade.

[@theotheronethere4391]

One more factor to note is that Rodgers Centre is probably Toronto's (and indirectly Canada's) #1 venue for super large international tours. Whenever a Beyonce or Taylor Swift wants to add a Canada stop, they are scheduling it for Rodgers Centre. If Blue Jays tear it down, it probably decreases the odds that such groups will add a Canada stop as there is nothing in the GTA that is close size wise (~50k plus) or they are not willing to trek out to Edmonton.

[@aaronminnis5995]

Went to Rogers Centre for first time last week. The renovations solved many issues and it looks nearly as good as any modern ballpark.

[@soapbox187]

Fantastic video, pal. Well done.

[@michaelromandel9022]

I worked for the demolition company that was part of the most recent renovation and apparently they were initially told a few years ago that they would be demolishing the entire structure and bought concrete crushing machinery based on how much concrete would be coming out of this gigantic structure. They were obviously a bit disappointed when the actual contract was for a renovation and not total demolition of the site

[@666mathew]

This reminds me of Madison Square Garden which is so well located, and has had recent renovations to extend to its lifespan, and but also has a shelf life. Will the Jays be forced to play in Buffalo for about 3 years, the time it takes to knock down and rebuild Rogers Centre?

[@Leafsfanforever]

I’m going to the blink 182 concert there next Thursday and it’ll be my first time there. I can’t wait!

[@thebatman8895]

What would I like to see in a new ballpark for the Jays? How about a winning team and competent management.

[@murphaa9564]

Went to the Skydome in 1990 to see the Yankees as a kid from NY. It was one of the the best trips I've ever taken for different reasons. That place/organization had to be making soooooooooooooooo much money in it's early days because every sports fan wanted to check it out! Anyway. It's funny how dirt cheap it is to go see an MLB game there now compared to the 90's and 2000's where another trip cost us 1/4 of what it did in 1990.

[@pboyle1220]

1:44 Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates also hit a walk off homer in game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the Yankees

[@Matt-nw2te]

Skydome (I NEVER called Rogers Centre) is not going ANYWHERE! My late uncle worked on the project, and at the he said the same concerns raised in this video. The Skydome is safe where they are. Been going to games (Blue Jays and Raptors), concerts and other events since the stadium opened. It’s not in danger of closing anytime soon.

[@timmyg7236]

That swing was the only *come from behind* walk-off homer… Bill Mazeroski had the first in a tie game in 1960

[@actng]

man that seat geek segue was smooth

[@fortinbras9346]

I was just at Rogers Centre for my first time ever a few days ago. I cannot speak for what it was prior to 2024, but what I can say from an average fan experience that my experience was great. I've been to National Park, LoanDepot Park(Marlins), Chase Field(Diamondbacks), Progressive Field(Guardians), and PNC PARK(Pirates). PNC Park is by far the best(me saying this as a Mets fan). The Rogers Centre isn't as good as PNC Park, but for average fans without expensive box seats, it is a worthy experience that is under appreciated

[@Posty-tl2tz]

Rogers Center is classic. It will be used for at least another 20 years. Done

[@soapbox187]

Sky Dome.

[@ryanmclellan8740]

Haven't they been a bunch of upgrades? Why think of moving? With enough updates this stadium could be seen as a modern classic IMO.

[@chazhill-kennedy9380]

The image of the skyline at without the dome gave me an uneasy feeling

[@jtjr26]

I think with any new stadium project they have to have a roof either or maybe translucent. Given that the retractable roof is closed most of the year anyway I think translucent may be the way to go. Also with a translucent roof with proper planning they might be able to have a natural grass field

[@markroberts2277]

I still liked it more when it was the Sky Dome

[@truthmongeror]

The public opinion was go big or go home. Since they wanted a multi purpose stadium, they went with the 1970's seating design. It is almost identical to long since demolished Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh without the roof. Also, the Toronto-Montreal rivalry as the stadium didn't open until the roof was functional, as Olympic Stadium roof became functional that year as well. Restaurants with views of the field were also vision for Olympic Stadium, but never materialized. Larry Grossman's baseball memoir states he met with the designers of Camden Yards in Baltimore during the tender process. They had just built a new minor league stadium in Buffalo in a classic design, and was ready for quick renovation to Major League standards. I modern, multipurpose design won over, as the prospect of showcasing the stadium for other attractions such as Canadian football and possibly luring an NFL team were just too enticing. It was the LAST brand new major league baseball stadium built as a multi purpose facility, although some stadiums can be converted, but with substandard sight lines and usually one off events. Personally, I like the redesign, they removed the retractable stands. My only suggestion is making the outside interior look more esthetic like Chicago did with New Comiskey. Driving past it everyday it just has the bland 1970's concrete (even though it was built in the 80's). Old Cleveland Stadium had the concrete Guardians sculped into its exterior concrete, maybe Rogers Centre could hire an artist to do something similar.