New Stadium?

[Live Free]

was flipping through the channels and saw the topic raised up in the 'Grill Room' with Gareth Wheeler..

A nice compact outdoor stadium with a skyline view something like BMO Field where the 20-30 thousand fans that come out regularly would somewhat impact the seats instead of all the empty seats we see at rogers centre would be sweet

what do you guys think?

[evilRyu]

i haven't heard anything about a new stadium... but all i know is that it appears that the Jays will be the only team in MLB that places on turf very shortly... isn't Tampa Bay and Minnesota getting new stadiums within the next year?

I don't see Rogers doing anything to get a new stadium, but I really hope so for so many reasons..

[s e n s i]

If we had an outdoor stadium, half of our games would have been canceled and rescheduled so far. The first couple weeks in April are still pretty cold and rainy.

I'd love a new stadium, no doubt, but we really can't expect an open-air stadium. If anything it has to be like Miller Park or Safeco Field, which would be fantastic imo. Real grass and getting rid of the concrete eye-sore that is the Rogers Centre.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with it for at least another 5-10 years.

[Brinbe]

I hope/pray for a new stadium too. But honestly, I think it'll be a long while before we say good bye to the dome.

[J-Roc]

What would happen to the Dome? It would have to be torn down, and that's not happening any time soon.

There's probably a better chance of growing grass inside the Dome. Anyone see that commercial from some grass seed they have at Canadian Tire? They throw some seed on concrete and the grass grows. Low maintenance grass, too.

I remember when this latest turf was all the rage a few years ago. Now it's considered a hard carpet like the old stuff.

[Geddy]

If we had an outdoor stadium, half of our games would have been canceled and rescheduled so far. The first couple weeks in April are still pretty cold and rainy.

I'd love a new stadium, no doubt, but we really can't expect an open-air stadium. If anything it has to be like Miller Park or Safeco Field, which would be fantastic imo. Real grass and getting rid of the concrete eye-sore that is the Rogers Centre.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with it for at least another 5-10 years.

I think you are right on all counts. There is no way an open roof would work in our climate, and I don't know how they are going to make it work in Minnesota.

The problem with skydome is that it cost too much in the first place so replacing it any time soon would not be too viable. Not only that, but they renovated much of it a couple of years back.

It's weird when you realize that in a few years time it will become one of the oldest stadiums in the league.

[s e n s i]

If we had an outdoor stadium, half of our games would have been canceled and rescheduled so far. The first couple weeks in April are still pretty cold and rainy.

I'd love a new stadium, no doubt, but we really can't expect an open-air stadium. If anything it has to be like Miller Park or Safeco Field, which would be fantastic imo. Real grass and getting rid of the concrete eye-sore that is the Rogers Centre.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with it for at least another 5-10 years.

I think you are right on all counts. There is no way an open roof would work in our climate, and I don't know how they are going to make it work in Minnesota.

The problem with skydome is that it cost too much in the first place so replacing it any time soon would not be too viable. Not only that, but they renovated much of it a couple of years back.

It's weird when you realize that in a few years time it will become one of the oldest stadiums in the league.

Haha yeah, and if nothing is done with it soon, it's gonna be Wrigley or Fenway old. To the point where no one wants to tear it down because of the prestige and history the building carries. Or not haha.

But honestly, yeah too much has been invested into the Dome to ditch it now. Real grass and an exterior face-lift would suffice for another decade until we get a new park hopefully.

In today's day in age, I'm sure there is some sort of viable real grass option that could be implemented. It would just take around the clock maintaining, which imo is worth it. And they need to throw some reflective glass onto the concrete wall outside the dome. Make it look anything but outdated pls.

[Holmes]

The city needs to figure out what they want to do with the horrendous Gardiner Expressway before thinking about a new stadium. If you thought the concrete Rogers Center is an eye sore.........

[Fairview4Life]

I vote for the Motomaster grass. That would be hilarious.

[joeyt618]

A new stadium would be awesome, but that's probably wishful thinking.
Honestly, just by putting some real grass, and not that ugly stuff we have in there right now, and it'll spruce up the place big time. I just don't know how they'll do that, since it's a multi-purpose facility.

vs.

With this grass and the dome open, I'd have no problems with it.

[J.Kim]

The Skydome is too cavernous to be a Baseball stadium in these ages, and it's too small to be a Football stadium when/if the Buffalo Bills finally make their move to Toronto.

As much as I enjoy the sight of the Skydome in the Toronto skyline, it's getting old and it's not really "multi-purpose" in the sense that it's not fit to be either a Football stadium or a Baseball stadium

I think once the Bills make their move eventually, there's going to be talks about building new stadiums for both teams. Baseball-specific for the Jays, and Football specific for the Bills/Whatever the team calls itself and the Argos.

[chargerxthirty]

I love the dome but hate the turf. I'd love an outdoor stadium, it would be amazing.... but we couldn't pull that off in Toronto. I can just imagine a November World series being absolutely horrendous. How awful would it be if we made the world series and ended up blaming our stadium for losing.

[evilRyu]

A new stadium would be awesome, but that's probably wishful thinking.
Honestly, just by putting some real grass, and not that ugly stuff we have in there right now, and it'll spruce up the place big time. I just don't know how they'll do that, since it's a multi-purpose facility.

vs.

With this grass and the dome open, I'd have no problems with it.

wow, that is an amazing picture, kudos for the work into that!

just looking at the photo makes it nicer.. but the dome would need to be opened at all times for the grass, no? And would this be the end of other in-door events since the grass will be in the way now?

[evilRyu]

If we had an outdoor stadium, half of our games would have been canceled and rescheduled so far. The first couple weeks in April are still pretty cold and rainy.

I'd love a new stadium, no doubt, but we really can't expect an open-air stadium. If anything it has to be like Miller Park or Safeco Field, which would be fantastic imo. Real grass and getting rid of the concrete eye-sore that is the Rogers Centre.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with it for at least another 5-10 years.

I think you are right on all counts. There is no way an open roof would work in our climate, and I don't know how they are going to make it work in Minnesota.

The problem with skydome is that it cost too much in the first place so replacing it any time soon would not be too viable. Not only that, but they renovated much of it a couple of years back.

It's weird when you realize that in a few years time it will become one of the oldest stadiums in the league.

i really hate the stupid scoreboard platered on the wall.... it's a huge safety hazard for the players.. there's no way an OF will try and run full speed toward that wall.. I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence, but I've kinda noticed some players slowed down a bit just before reaching the wall.. How can this be good for the game? It's utterly pathetic.. didn't some player from the Red Sox or Yanks get hurt from the wall when it first started operating?

how can they allow the implementation of this scoreboard without taking into consideration that it's really dangerous?

[s e n s i]

I kinda agree with the scoreboard on the wall being hazardous for outfielders, but it can't really be much more dangerous than Wrigley with the ivy covered brick wall, or Minute Maid park for that matter with that dumbass hill out in center field.

[joeyt618]

wow, that is an amazing picture, kudos for the work into that!

just looking at the photo makes it nicer.. but the dome would need to be opened at all times for the grass, no? And would this be the end of other in-door events since the grass will be in the way now?

Thanks!

Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from the new University of Phoenix Stadium.

It has the first fully retractable natural grass playing surface built in the United States. An opening on one side of the stadium allows the playing field to move to the exterior of the building, both allowing the entire natural turf playing surface to be exposed to daylight when it is not in use and allowing the floor to be used for other purposes without damaging the playing surface.

[EventHorizon]

SkyDome is here to stay, there is no room for the retractable grass either. I have been suggesting to evict the Argos to BMO field, get it expanded, and make SkyDome only for Jays with the real grass.

As for the Bills, my idea is instead of eventually building a stadium in Burlington or in the middle of nowhere, let's incorporate the the stadium in the Toronto skyline. Where the space? Toronto Islands. There is an island I think southern of the airport which is a "park" that anyone hardly visits. It's not Centerville. Build a 70,000 seat stadium there with an exclusive bridge from the mainland.

This would be big budget project but will also have the potential to be a landmark similar to the Sidney Opera House.

[chargerxthirty]

whoever asked if some yankee or red sox hurt themself on it.

the answer is yes, the first week that the new scoreboards on the OF walls were in use... Johnny Damon ran into the plasma wall and gashed his arm open for 3 or 4 stitches very first play of the game.

[J.Kim]

SkyDome is here to stay, there is no room for the retractable grass either. I have been suggesting to evict the Argos to BMO field, get it expanded, and make SkyDome only for Jays with the real grass.

As for the Bills, my idea is instead of eventually building a stadium in Burlington or in the middle of nowhere, let's incorporate the the stadium in the Toronto skyline. Where the space? Toronto Islands. There is an island I think southern of the airport which is a "park" that anyone hardly visits. It's not Centerville. Build a 70,000 seat stadium there with an exclusive bridge from the mainland.

This would be big budget project but will also have the potential to be a landmark similar to the Sidney Opera House.

Not really viable... Have you been to Ralph Wilson stadium? That thing is massive... There's no way a 70,000 stadium would be able to fit in that Centre Island area. Plus you'd have to contend with the City airport and it's flight plans, and the residents of that island who are already opposed to that airport. Not to mention, where do you put the parking/tailgate area, the practice facility that re team will need? You'd likely have to reclaim a lot of the land to be able tofut everything, and also build a bridge to connect of all.

[Modern_epic]

SkyDome is here to stay, there is no room for the retractable grass either. I have been suggesting to evict the Argos to BMO field, get it expanded, and make SkyDome only for Jays with the real grass.

As for the Bills, my idea is instead of eventually building a stadium in Burlington or in the middle of nowhere, let's incorporate the the stadium in the Toronto skyline. Where the space? Toronto Islands. There is an island I think southern of the airport which is a "park" that anyone hardly visits. It's not Centerville. Build a 70,000 seat stadium there with an exclusive bridge from the mainland.

This would be big budget project but will also have the potential to be a landmark similar to the Sidney Opera House.

I don't know where to start here; this is just about the dumbest idea I have ever heard. I'm willing to bet that you are either 14 or live in the 'burbs.

First, just because you don't use the island, it doesn't mean no one else does. A couple thousand people live on it, plenty of folks do use the island for things other than centreville, and I don't care how nice of a stadium you make, it is going to be uglier than parkland.

Second, there really, really isn't room.

Third, having everyone go across bridges to get there is a traffic nightmare. Also, the bridges would be a nightmare for shipping lanes.

Fourth, there is plenty of land available just as close to downtown that doesn't ruin a great part of the city, and that the city has been trying to redevelop for years. If you can't figue out where, take a look at the google satellite map of the city. Or look at the pan-am bid proposal, or Olympic bid proposals, and you will see an area that makes about 1000 times more sense.

Seriously, baseball isn't that important.