Toronto Rogers Centre Renovations | ?m | ?s | Toronto Blue Jays | Populous

Riseth said:
Huge disappointment if this come true. Skydome was never perfect but it's iconic and has been a huge part of the city and our skyline for over 30 years. If it's really that outdated just repurpose it and find a way to keep it for something else. Might as well tear down the CN Tower next to build more condos 😒
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I agree, it should be identified as a heritage site
 
Best downtown development news I've heard in awhile. I would prefer Rogers vacate the Canada lands altogether and build their stadium elsewhere. The Jays can play in the dome until the new stadium is ready. Much rather see this publicly owned land for a project to serve the vast majority of Torontonians on a year-round basis.
I'd be on board with the Portlands or somewhere along the new subway line.

As a baseball fan I have fond memories of the Skydome and surely to many Canadians it is somewhat iconic, but it's far from the Sydney Opera house. It even has less aesthetic appeal and architectural value than the Big Owe in MTL. The only way I would be happy with keeping the dome onsite is if they gut it, put in new roof and most important of all to most baseball fans and players- install real grass.
 
As a big Jays fan, I'm thrilled by this. I loved the Skydome because of the memories , but it is absolutely an outdated, hulking facility that is really not great for baseball (or much else at this point). Look at any ranking of MLB parks online and Rogers Centre is pretty much universally considered to be bottom 3. You could do something so much better like a Safeco Field in Seattle, or even PNC Park in Pittsburgh with an open outfield to see the city. If they do build half a stadium right below Rogers Centre, they may be able to take a cue from St Louis. Here's a good thread on it:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1332328764236320770
 
Could copy how the reds built there stadium by taking a chunk out of the rogers center...

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So bring it up to current standard. There is so much embodied energy in the existing concrete that it would be an absolute crime to demo it. I'm not a baseball fan, so I really don't care much about fan service, but from an environmental perspective, the citizens of a planet that is *roasting* every day need to do better.
 
ProjectEnd said:
So bring it up to current standard. There is so much embodied energy in the existing concrete that it would be an absolute crime to demo it. I'm not a baseball fan, so I really don't care much about fan service, but from an environmental perspective, the citizens of a planet that is *roasting* every day need to do better.
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Exactly! Modernizing or repurposing the stadium for something else is a far better solution. Gut the interior and make adjustments to the exterior where necessary but to demolish something that's less than 35 years old and that has become so iconic to the city for more condo space is a travesty. Just build a new modern stadium somewhere else if needed. Not everything in this city has to be condos.
 
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Riseth said:
Exactly! Modernizing or repurposing the stadium for something else is a far better solution. Gut the interior and make adjustments to the exterior where necessary but to demolish something that's less than 35 years old and that has become so iconic to the city for more condo space is a travesty. Just build a new modern stadium somewhere else if needed. Not everything in this city has to be condos.
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I'm really not sure what you could do with the dome if you take the Blue Jays out of there. I don't see sports being played in there. Occasional concerts? That's quite a prime location to be sitting empty most of the year. Also, it's not like they'd be knocking it down to just build a wall of condos. There'd be a new park there taking up most of that space, and creating a new part of the skyline. I think you could easily build something that is much more attractive (and better for baseball) than the dome. Imagine you had something like this in its place for example: https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/11/05/new-for-2023-hokkaido-ballpark/
 
Richard White said:
The first jays game was snowed out, the rain and wind was heavy off the lake and Dave Winfield managed to take out a seagull (later requiring a police escort).

The consensus was that a roofed stadium was warranted.
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The first Jays game was not cancelled due to snow as I was there ("We want beer! We want Beer!...). Had it been any other game in the 81 home game scheduled it likely would have been cancelled due to snow.

Dave Winfield did not join or play against the Jays until years later (I don't think he ever played for the White Sox either).
 
droyces said:
The first Jays game was not cancelled due to snow as I was there ("We want beer! We want Beer!...). Had it been any other game in the 81 home game scheduled it likely would have been cancelled due to snow.

Dave Winfield did not join or play against the Jays until years later (I don't think he ever played for the White Sox either).
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The three things I referred to were at 3 different times.
 
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