The SkyDome was Revolutionary

[@1mlb704]

I've always liked this stadium

[@dcb113]

Then you haven't been to any real ballparks.

[@1mlb704]

@@dcb113 yeah no I prefer the fake ones

[@sharkattack6610]

First visited SkyDome in late April of 1993 to watch the Blue Jays play a homestand against the White Sox, Rangers and Royals. The Jays were the best team in MLB at the time. The Leafs were in the middle of an exciting post season run against the Red Wings. The city of Toronto was abuzz. I fell in love with the place and it remains one of my favorite North American cities.

[@Tarapatil2023]

where do you reside these days?

[@jonstefanik9400]

I remember SkyDome was the talk of Major League Baseball in it's first few years, deemed luxurious. It's one of the "How can you top this?!" facilities. Opened in 1989. It hosted WrestleMania VI when it was less than a year old. Hosted the 1991 All-Star game and the Blue Jays had their best years then so they sold out plenty of games then. Throughout the years it started aging but one thing has always remained the same was the cool roof opening. I will never refer to it as Rogers Centre. #1. Because SkyDome is a better name and #2 a young girl won the "Name the Dome" contest. It really upsets me that they took away that honor, grown woman or not it should always be SkyDome.

[@timothyharris9252]

'Absolutely agree that SkyDome is a better name (I guess Canada isn't beyond corporate egotism either). I still have a Hard Rock shirt from when they had a restaurant there.

[@jg2977]

As a kid I loved SkyDome when it first opened. I was in awe of it. Early in its first season ESPN broadcast a Sunday Night Baseball game there and I watched the entire game. They showed incredible views of all different areas of the stadium and the roof. It was really interesting. In 1993 I visited Toronto and took a tour of it, unfortunately at the time it was in its football configuration for the Argos, but it was still really cool seeing the stadium for myself.

[@stickynorth]

The dome is so iconic to the city skyline that I can easily see the roof itself become heritage listed with the rest of the stadium being renovated as needed, as it just has for MLB baseball...

[@michaelmarkowski204]

Yeah, the Dome right next to the CN Tower. You know it's Toronto whenever you see a photo of the two side-by-side.

[@andrewm753]

@@michaelmarkowski204If they do replace it, I hope they put another similar dome right next to it. Now THAT skyline will be iconic.

[@brothaman007]

you cant see the dome from most of Toronto anymore. They built so many skyscrapers around it

[@dcb113]

@@andrewm753 Yeah, because there's plenty of room?!

[@andrewm753]

@@dcb113 I was rolling a bad joke... two round domes at the base of one tower... Bad enough it got missed, I guess. Although under-grounding the rail and building overtop would maybe be cost effective given the cost of the real estate down there.

[@nubtv8545]

The Ultimate Warrior pinning Hulk Hogan at Wrestle Mania VI was even louder then the Joe Carter home run in the World Series. Core childhood memory!

[@petedepledge519]

i was there.

[@benpezzot8805]

But I'm doubtful as loud as hulk hogan hulking up against the rock

[@BonesBrigader]

​@@benpezzot8805 What a night to remember. Both mania's

[@Golbez1991]

I've always felt that Toronto learned from Montréal's mistakes. Montréal wanted a flexible roof, Toronto got a retractable one (that works). Montreal was penny pinching everything, Toronto invested heavily.

[@marklittle8805]

Montreal was sold a bill of goods. It looked like a sexy idea. But cost was no object. A Quebec or Montreal politician hasn't been born that doesn't love to spend money

[@dcb113]

Agreed. The last thing Montreal was doing was penny pinching. @@marklittle8805

[@GhostStoriesworld]

I worked on both of the new renovations. The second one that happened this off season was actually 4 times the amount of work. Basically removed the entire 100 level down to the ground and rebuilt both home and away team club houses. As well as adding space for future restaurants.

[@reddog4674]

A lot of the old photos bring back a lot of memories as a 10 year old when they broke ground and having a father who helped build the skydome he use to take a lot of pictures of the construction. They got lost over time so it was nice to see some of them again

[@ArthurTerry-we1uv]

Never should be demolished

[@boataxe4605]

I’ll never forget the couple who were getting it on in one of the hotel rooms during a game with the curtains open.

[@TMC1982Part2]

I always thought that the main impetus for the creation of the SkyDome was the 1982 Grey Cup between the Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos. The game was of course, in Toronto at the Blue Jays' first ballpark, Exhibition Stadium, and it was really rainy and cold on that day.

[@mikematson6323]

That was. The next day at the celebration people chanted "We want a Dome!"

[@andrewm753]

@@mikematson6323There was also opening day for the Blue Jays in April 1977. It snowed. It became quite apparent with April and October/November baseball in the cards and a location on the shores of Lake Ontario, a covered stadium was going to have merit in that city. Frankly, I think after the renovations it's an enjoyable place to watch a game again. And I think the roof has a lot of value. So does having the stadium right downtown. There's not much land left downtown for a new stadium. If they moved the stadium to the outskirts the team would lose massive attendance.

[@mikematson6323]

I watched the first game online a little while ago.

[@soundbombin23]

Loving the new renos done to the building.

[@jakeschutz6342]

Gone to enough games in spring at the old Ex as a kid. Our fully enclosed stadium may lack aesthetics but believe, freezing your arse off on lake ontario as compared to 71 degrees and dry makes Rogers Centre just fine. Also, the dome open in summer is actually a great time and is a totally different experience from when it is closed.

[@simonmarshall19]

The Roger’s Centre was home to WWF Wrestlemania 6 & 18 .

[@dcb113]

Not something to brag about. Silverdome in Detroit hosted 90,000. They tore it down out of embarrassment.

[@simonmarshall19]

@@dcb113 yes true

[@AndrewMarconi]

One other thing you forgot to mention is that before the outfield seats were renovated, those seats were still skydome seats. You could still see the logo of the skydome on it

[@lucky247365]

One thing that you didn't mention about the Rogers Centre is that it was the first MLB stadium that drew over 4 MM and they did this for 3 straight years from 91-93, setting a new MLB record until the Rockies surpassed them playing at Mile High Stadium in 1993. I love how unique of a stadium it is. It stands out in MLB and has a more futuristic look to it than the traditional looking ballpark aesthetic. It almost feels like MLB's version of the Tokyo dome, especially when the roof is open with all the lights on and being plunk down in one if North America's most vibrant evening skylines.

[@howie9751]

It's not an attractive place to see a baseball game. It doesn't even look like a place you go to see a ball game.

[@dcb113]

@@howie9751 No kidding. The upper deck is in a different postal code. What a hellhole.

[@ronpeacock9939]

Skydome (today, Rogers Center) is the stadium that started the MLB push for teams to get new stadiums. Shortly after, Baltimore got Oriole Park and now teams were competing with each other for the best new stadiums.. Toronto needed a staidum.. They shared Exhibition Stadium with the Argos and that was built more for the CFL (which the CFL field is 150 yards long vs the NFL 120).. and it created some issues.. but worked.. it was what was available with the Jays started play in the late 70's.. I do hate the way MLB teams started their pushes for new arenas.. it used to be, if they wanted a new one.. they built a new one.. now they hold the city hostage for one.. gotta love TV..

[@EdV-et6qm]

I remember the Buffalo Bill tickets were being sold for 10 times more in Toronto than in Buffalo hence was the reason they didn't sell out their Buffalo Bill games (it was robbery). Most Toronto fans prefer driving 90 minutes to Buffalo and saving over 200+ a ticket for the same game. The CFL Argonauts now play were the MLS team Toronto FC in the BMO Field just 2 miles away next to the lake and highway.

[@TimDHodges]

I'm pretty sure the first of those games sold out hence why they did more of them.

[@johnmillar6820]

Also the Bills weren't really good. They played in Toronto in the middle of the 17 year playoff drought.

[@dcb113]

@@TimDHodges No. It was a contract for two from the beginning with the Bill guaranteed their revenue.

[@TheJiggaNasty]

Roger stadium is definitely unique. I always felt like the seats around home plate and along the 1st and 3rd base lines should be closer, but you're right it was made in the 80s and built to be multi-purpose. Toronto definitely got their money's worth!

[@toxdazcubing]

i read your name wrong😭😭

[@johnepants]

I feel like Rogers Center was the only multipurpose stadium that worked. And it’s unique enough to keep alive as long as it gets regular love and care

[@dcb113]

There's a good reason they don't build them any more.

[@samus4040]

I remember visiting Toronto as a 10 year old in 1988. That image at 2:25 is what I remember seeing from the CN Tower. Incredible ingenuity and human achievement at work. Same goes for the tower! So when people complain about how dated Skydome is, it’s the former that they lack. All they see is an image. This place is a marvel. 🇨🇦✊

[@racingphotographer8251]

You forgot to point out... SkyDome built by taxpayers for $500M, bought by Rogers for $25M. Not a typo.

[@sampicano]

And Toronto already needs a new stadium. BMO is woefully insufficient for the FIFA worls cup. The skydome is a concrete eyesore, and 300 million renovations are pure trash waste of money. Toronto needs an NFL ready stadium.

[@stephenwodz7593]

@@sampicano Don't be silly. Toronto's not getting an NFL team. And I don't think Rogers is an eyesore; in fact, it looks pretty good.

[@sampicano]

@@stephenwodz7593 An NFL franchise in Toronto would instantly be worth $4 Billion dollars. They just need a stadium first...

[@Firestone1]

You do your research. Excellent video & channel.

[@stickynorth]

Or give Edmonton the games it rightfully deserves. We sold out the Ice Bowl vs Mexico and then we get skipped as host? I don't think so... ;-)@@sampicano

[@raptorspostgametalk]

Ahh the memories of the skydome thanks for this video

[@billcook4768]

According to my Canadian friends it’s simply Skydome, not The Skydome.

[@jonstefanik9400]

That's exactly what it's intended name was through out the world They wanted one word.

[@tomryan914]

If it was in Nova Scotia it would be "The Lord Tunderin' Jesus Skydome".🦞

[@michaelmarkowski204]

I miss Exhibition Stadium. I remember the time Jesse Barfield hit a homer over the wall in right field that landed around the 5 yard line, just short of the end zone...

[@michaelmarkowski204]

Fun Fact: Rogers Centre still has AstroTurf as its playing surface, specifically the AstroTurf RootZone Diamond Series turf system with a Brock SP17 pad for extra shock absorption.

[@dcb113]

Fun Fact. #2. Baseball should be played on grass.

[@smooth_concrete]

DG we need a video about Harbaugh now!!

[@NoName-zb1gm]

The roof design is also cool how it curves and slides together. A very clever way to have the roof open and not need so much space.

[@JamiewoodCoasters]

Here's hoping for a video on the original retractable roof, the Pittsburgh Civic Area, AKA Mellon Arena, aka the Igloo.

[@mattlorentz1988]

She will always be the Skydome

[@ryanjefferies2788]

You couldn't look up "Argonauts" for a video?

[@michaelmarkowski204]

Toronto has been trying to get an NFL franchise since 1977 when the Blue Jays began play. No way they get one. The NFL wants the CFL to survive because the NFL wants football to be played across the country and, Toronto is its biggest market. Though fans don't show up to Argo games, CFL TV ratings on TSN are consistently good. Also, the NFL is already much more popular in Canada than the CFL, fans have their favorite NFL teams, merchandise sales are good, etc.

[@saltbae865]

First retractable roof stadium in the world. Largest jumbotron for decades. First automated seating system in a stadium. First stadium with a hotel. Despite it getting outdated pretty fast with retro parks... this stadium was a marvel.

[@superally8077]

The restaurant was called windows.

[@TessieLangford]

It is a good thing the CFL Toronto Argonauts now play @ the Toronto FC MLS ⚽ Stadium

[@jonstefanik9400]

The Argos fans wanted it more than Blue Jays fans. Go figure.

[@YakkoWarnerTower]

I literally have never been to the Skydome but oh man it's state of the art honestly.

[@sampicano]

Bills games are $68 average ticket prices. Bills games in Toronto were $183 average ticket prices. $183 PER TICKET to support one of the worst teams and cities in North America. $366 dollars for 2 people to go and see the 2012 Buffalo Bills (4-12) I wouldn't pay for Bills tickets if they were 16-0. I hate Buffalo

[@carlowens9720]

The World Basketball Championship final was played at Sky Dome!

[@johnpatterson4272]

The original Skydome construction cost Toronto over $600 million for the original build by Ellis Don Construction. Later in the late 90s the sale went to a Belgium company Interbrew for around $33 million. Rogers acquired Skydome for an estimated $19 million thereafter. It's a lingering 'white elephant' on the Toronto shoreline. While maybe revolutionary in design for its day, the Rogers Centre mirrors the debacle of Olympic Stadium in Montreal in many ways.

[@doublestrokeroll]

Seattle figured out the right way to do retractable roof stadiums for baseball. Skydome was a "closed stadium" that could be opened in good weather. Safeco was a "open stadium" that could be closed for bad weather. Having said that, the new renovations to skydome look pretty great so far.

[@marklittle8805]

Before the Skydome was built, no one was sure a roof that size could be reliable. The Skydome came first and laid down the template for how to engineer a large and reliable roof. And the Dome in Toronto is open more often than not. They are really trying to keep it open as often as possible for games

[@doublestrokeroll]

@@marklittle8805 For sure. It's always been a cool stadium. But in hindsight, not focusing on multi purpose might have been a better option. It's just a timing thing. If the Jays ever build a new one I'm sure it will be more on a Safeco type design.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

Next year will be its 35 anniversary!

[@kevincanning3051]

Argos. They're called the Argos or Argonauts.

[@michaelmarkowski204]

There are only four other MLB ballparks that still use artificial turf: The Trop (Rays), LoanDepot (Marlins), Globe LIfe (Rangers), and Chase (Diamondbacks).

[@lucky247365]

Seems like more NFL stadiums that have retractable roofs are going towards more artificial turf. Wonder if that will be a trend in MLB if newer stadiums get built with retractable roofs.

[@terrycullen3302]

@@lucky247365 In some cases, the teams have roofs because it's too hot to play outside. But trying to gross grass in these stadiums is probably not possible, which is why they chose to use artificial turf. The Rogers Centre, for example, investigated putting in real grass but the findings were that it was too expensive and complicated to do, partly because they would have to grow the grass outside of the city and move it in by the start of spring training.

[@thermiekim9243]

As a bluejays fan I might be a bit bias but I feel like the rogers centre should be in top 10 after the 2 renovations happen

[@sampicano]

As a Jays fan I thought the rennovations are the biggest waste of money I can remember in my life time. I personally think it's one of the ugliest stadiums in the league WITH renovations

[@thermiekim9243]

@@sampicano I get where your coming from but the ballpark’s features is what separates it from top 10 from bottom 10 I’ve been to the catch bar I’ve been to the Corona rooftop I’ve been to park social I’ve sat in behind the jays bullpen the corona rooftop and park social doesnt feel like your in the ballpark I don’t think you’ve visited the features next time go or don’t because our team sucks

[@sampicano]

​@@thermiekim9243 I don't like them. I don't see where $300 million dollars of renovations went. I think there's SO many beautiful stadiums and the rogers centre is an eyesore inside and out. You think it looks good. I think it looks ugly. (Fire Shapiro and Atkins already this is getting stupid. And I wouldn't mind seeing Schneider replaced.)

[@thermiekim9243]

@@sampicano atkins snichder and Shapiro yeah they need to go also get rid of Matt Chapman we can get 150M back if we can sell matt Chapman I would love it but also agree to disagree on the stadium

[@fjcrod]

The Bills games were just a cash grab. The interesting thing about those games was that the Bills many times felt like the visiting team. I remember going to the game here when the Steelers played the Bills and the majority of fans, me included, cheered on the Steelers. Though Buffalo is only 90 miles away, they've never been a team that's been embraced by the metro Toronto region as a local team. Toronto is too big not to have their own NFL team. There are only four cities in the NFL with a metro population equal to or greater than Toronto's. So it always felt insulting that we'd host a team from Buffalo. A city with about a quarter the population of Toronto. I just don't think the NFL has any interest in expanding into Canada. In fact, most people in Toronto, don't think that we'll ever have an NFL team.

[@Mr.E1329]

It's borderline criminal when these great venues like SkyDome get relabeled with these stupid corporate names. Disgusting.

[@toscodav]

I wonder why they didn't put the open folded roof behind homeplate? Looking out toward the fence, it would look completely open. They also should of put balconies on the hotel rooms.

[@KWally]

Seattle gets the shadow at times as well due to the way the roof in right hangs over the field a tiny bit. This reno is also only temporary, they want to build a new stadium within the next 10 years, the value of the land where it is is worth way more than the stadium itself.

[@andrewm753]

But where would you put it? CNE grounds? Portlands? York? Downsview? None of those locations are "downtown" or accessible. You will lose attendance in a big way. There's just so little space left in downtown Toronto for a new stadium. I say they keep giving it incremental facelifts to extend its life and modernize. But yes... that land is worth a fortune.

[@jeffreyreyes6800]

The skydome was one of the best stadiums ever built

[@seen48]

Those hotel rooms have gone bonkers in price over the past 7 years. Four of us went and it was like $390, the next year was $520. I looked to possibly go this year and it’s over $900 now. Not a good view at all. It would be cheaper to just get a non field view room and get tickets in the stadium. Current reno took entire lower bowl out and the field. The seats were facing the field because of football so it all had to be fixed. Last years Reno was pretty awesome.

[@911___________DIVOC]

3:55 100% agree. I have always hated the white panelling around the hotel windows. It looks so dated.

[@UDubFootballFan]

To be fair they wanted a retractable DOME, not a retractable ROOF.

[@Kane-ib5sn]

people have the assessment all wrong. Rogers Center is one of the best stadiums, because it never suffers from a rain-out. its out-door ambience is missing. so you get a fair trade-off. and, if you're looking for out-doors, you go and find a park. Rogers Center appears to have all the essential amenities. the upgrades take it to the top tier. it's just a matter of popular-opinion/herd-mentality, now.

[@HELLH0WND]

MLB teams are starting to switch to artificial turf as natural is cost prohibitive especially when it comes to retractable roof stadiums.

[@marklittle8805]

The new lower bowl reno is a lot more expensive than the party decks. And yes, the stands wont move now

[@barontaylor7139]

It was a result of the 1982 Rain Bowl Grey Cup game

[@AZTUC_520]

I would like the Blue Jays to get a new staidium and the city to use the site as a park or maybe a new museum.

[@toxdazcubing]

BLUE JAYS FANS RISE UP

[@glennstarkey7087]

Gotta realize that this was meant to be the ultimate in multi purpose facilities and if you use ultimate to mean last you'd be right but sadly this fact in the face of the 90s retro park boom has sullied Skydomes actual positive legacy Then the multi purpose facility died in 93 when Camden yards opened and changed the game forever But The modern luxury box hell it was called skyboxes for years- skydome Full service restaurants inside the stadium...hard Rock Cafe - skydome Giant single score/video board - skydome Modern fast opening retractable roof...skydome And today its not in the dregs like other surviving multi purpose and yes I know its been rebuilt for only baseball but it is a strong middle of the road park and when the jays are on feared, respected and infamous for being a loud house 35 years and it's still a strong park in mlb Meanwhile its outlived other parks younger than it and younger parks getting a downsize or major reconfiguration And honestly the bigger issue was the argos turning out to be corrupt I remember talk of either the CFL becoming a rival league or the argos joining the NFL and top NFL prospects being taken into the argos The bills expirement was indeed due to ticket prices...and tge downsizing of the argos is more about the CFL itself Without the argos being a 2nd draw the Jays overpaid for talent and had a downturn in the 90s and even then they were always known for decent records 3rd behind Yankees and sox...its still a landmark I call that a win esp for the last of the multi purpose

[@mansurrahim]

Worked here for a while. I just want to clarify those Bills games were pre-season games.

[@johnmorrison9758]

where were you? They played regular season games there. That was stopped after a few years because the games did not sell out. Ted Rogers thought he was going to make a fortune.

[@mansurrahim]

@@johnmorrison9758 I worked in security for big events but prior to all the Bill games...late 90s into the 2000s. Thanks for the info.

[@jeffbell9391]

Wait tell it's done the new renovations are going to make the skydom feel more like a ballpark with the new seating .

[@bt71sschevelle58]

The reason they have the sky Dome is because of the grey cup in 1982

[@cmdrflake]

The Toronto series was a flop partly because the Bills were not very good then. Toronto had a CFL team and the fans wanted to keep it going.

[@sikguitarist]

They still have the Argos

[@samelmudir]

Bills were weak and fans already went to buffalo for games. also no tailgate at skydome

[@sampicano]

And Buffalo has 1 million people. Toronto has 6.2 million. What 6 million population American city is supporting a small city in Canada???? How many Detroit fans going to Hamilton Tigercats games???? It was a braindead move. I love the NFL. I HATE THE BILLS. I HATE BUFFALO AS A CITY. Why would I support a city I hate? I would NEVER buy Bills tickets. I would buy season tickets to a Toronto NFL team...crazy how that works

[@sampicano]

"Toronto had a CFL team and the fans wanted to keep it going." Wtf does that mean??? Argos are the worst supported team in the CFL. And NFL ratings in Toronto are better than CFL ratings. Nobody in Toronto cares about the Argos (and they're 16-2 this season lol)

[@sampicano]

I don't know ANYBODY who drives 2 hours and 45 minutes to tailgate at Buffalo games. 6.2 million people in the GTA and I don't know anybody who does that. I know more Cowboys fans than Bills fans.

[@brendacottrell704]

It was just SkyDome, not the SkyDome

[@paulduffy8774]

new renovations all they did was make it a drinking place but forgot to get some players oh well they can drown there sorows cause they dont make the play offs this year

[@brothaman007]

How could you not include this was the raptors home arena as well?

[@47mmot6]

Skydome. Not The Skydome

[@Z64sports]

He's not saying "The Skydome" he's saying the Skydome

[@jonstefanik9400]

@@Z64sports But in the title he put The SkyDome. At least he got SkyDome right and not Skydome or Sky Dome.

[@keith96969]

I would have built a new outdoor stadium showed off our sexy skyline. However, location is too good too pass up renos have been great.

[@ariea.devalois1564]

There's no point in renovating the exterior. The stadium is by a multi tiered major throughfare roadway system.

[@bubbabear244]

Take yourself out of your current opinion about how the dome is now and interpret how Toronto approached this building for its time in the mid-late 80s. This was out of necessity since Exhibition Stadium was bad for baseball sightlines, and the need for a domed stadium following the disaster of the 1982 rainbowl.

[@mikematson6323]

The Ex wasn't suited for either sport it hosted. Makes sense since the grandstand was originally built for concerts. The Argos moved in, causing the first expansion. In anticipation of either an expansion team or having the SF Giants move, it was reworked again to the final form...

[@wyldebill4178]

I think they only finished paying it off a few years ago.

[@saltbae865]

Greatest wrestlmania... hogan vs the rock.

[@kevinblack16]

2:57 is still skydome not Olympic stadium

[@89volvowithlazers]

The skydome experience broke Chicago's will for a new stadium, the people dont want to fund a billionaires toy/hobby

[@USMC-Sniper-0137]

FIRST!!!!!!!

[@WinkDaMan07]

Do you think they'll ever change over to real grass?

[@junkbox_]

Wind generation is the biggest factor in having real grass. They have been doing wind tunnel tests at the University of Guelph in regards to producing wind inside the stadium, grass cannot be grown without wind. Replacing the poly wrapped ceiling and making the ceiling transparent to allow for natural light will not happen until the wind issue is resolved. In order to have authentic grass at SkyDome you would need the UV rays as well as natural wind. I learned about the importance of wind in regards to growing grass when they reworked the upper level last year. The dilemma was explained on the Jays' youtube channel and they said they have been doing wind tunnel tests at UofG for quite some time. The University of Guelph has a state of the art wind tunnel that is used for research purposes by architects from all over the world.

[@paulmillercanada]

@@junkbox_ - Also, they would have to dig up the floor to install drainage. Between that and coming up with a way to get natural light in would be too costly just to have grass.

[@kifikes2183]

One thing I can say on why nfl tickets didn’t sell well there is because well the bills was TRASH AF if it was todays modern day Bills we talking sell outs

[@terrycullen3302]

Honestly, I think the hotel is the worst aspect of the stadium. I'd much prefer it if that section was opened up, and natural light was let in.

[@HaasteagleVR]

4 town

[@jhh9388]

I've been there many times. It's not a good place to watch a game. Poor atmosphere. It feels like the inside of an airplane hanger. Sanitized. I went to a game in Detroit last year ... much better.

[@anthonyg1701]

bro the city is pronounced 'Torana' get it right

[@creedencebakken2686]

Stop pronouncing the second T in Toronto it’s so annoying

[@jonstefanik9400]

Toronno