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UrbanToronto has invited Richter Heintz, co-founder of Maple Athletes and a third year student at the University of Toronto, to cover the enhanced fan experience and renovated in-field seating at the Rogers Centre ahead of the Blue Jays home opener on Monday, April 8th.
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Having co-founded Maple Athletes, a sports media brand focused on telling the stories and paths of Canadian athletes, I know the importance that sports serve in the everyday lives of many people across the country. As the nation's only Major League Baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays are under a constant spotlight in what experience they provide to their fans. With that being said, it was exciting to visit the Rogers Centre ahead of Monday's home opener for UrbanToronto to get a first glance at the changes made to the enhanced fan experience.
When it was first built in 1989, every aspect of the Rogers Centre was designed to be flexible to accommodate multiple sports and events; from removable dugouts, to rotating bleachers, the space was not designed with baseball as its sole focus. Over the past two off-seasons, a completely privately-funded renovation of just under $400 million has reworked the space with baseball in mind. In Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro’s words, the renovation's purpose was “to transition from a multipurpose stadium to a ballpark — a baseball specific venue.”
The first phase of the renovation which occurred prior to the start of last season introduced fans to the bars, food counters, and new casual spectating spaces of the "Outfield District." In phase two of the renovation now being unveiled, the lower bowl was completely demolished and reconstructed with key differentiations. Along both foul lines, the sections were turned inwards to face fans in the direction of the infield rather than facing straight outwards. All seats in the lower bowl were widened for better comfort and — to the relief of many — now have cup holders! Accessible seating has increased by a reported 18% and, rather than simply placing accessible spaces along the concourse, these seating areas have been brought forward so as to be a part of the stands themselves. The changes from the two year renovation have resulted in a reduced seating capacity of approximately 12%, while providing new and enhanced fan experience venues. Construction is continuing beneath the lower bowl seats to create premium venues and amenities which are expected to open later this season.
Fans seated along the first and third baseline will no longer have to twist and turn in order to see the mound and home plate. As shown above in the view from Section 110, the renovation prioritized improved and more direct sightlines towards the infield. Adapting to the constraints of the existing building dimensions and angles posed a significant obstacle to hurtle in this design process.
New premium seats, complete with thick cushions, side tables, and cup holders have replaced the old seats behind home plate. The concrete wall skirting the backstop, built to look like a masonry facade, adds to the new ballpark aesthetic.
Also new this season is a row of seats dubbed ‘Bullpen Alley’ situated directly behind the visiting team’s bullpen. Adjacent to the general admission Canada Dry Bleachers and directly beneath The Catch Bar, this singular row of seats will provide fans with a unique vantage point of the game, as well as an up close experience with visiting players.
In addition to structural changes, the Rogers Centre will also be introducing new food and beverage offerings such as a Hot Honey and Maple Bacon Hotdog, a Stuffed Jamaican Patty with Jerk Chicken, a Frozen Mangonada cocktail, and a limited edition Double Lime Bud Light. With the season opener fast approaching, fans will be able to experience the changes for themselves starting Monday April 8th when the Blue Jays take on the Seattle Mariners.
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Next up: the Player Experience improves at the Rogers Centre.
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UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
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