Commissioner: Rogers Centre is Outdated

[North_of_Border]

CBC.ca

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that Rogers Centre is in need of an update.

The downtown stadium has been the Toronto Blue Jays' home since June 1989.

"The stadium when it was built was a great building, one of our best," Manfred said. "I think given the passage of time, the building is probably out of date in terms of the amenities that are available in many of our ballparks. The physical design of the stadium — so many of our stadiums have millennial areas, things like that, that have been built and become more popular more recently.

"So while the building is fundamentally sound, I think it needs an update to make it as economically viable as possible."

Manfred, who held a media availability before the Jays' game against the Boston Red Sox, said the stadium issue was a talking point during his meeting with team president Mark Shapiro earlier in the day.

'Limited premium seating'

The commissioner planned to meet later Tuesday with chairman Edwards Rogers and representatives from team owner Rogers Communications Inc.

"It's really a local matter," Manfred said. "It's something that ownership and Mark have to work through in terms of the size of the investment. I do know that there's limited premium seating in this facility.

"I think in a market as robust as Toronto, if it were my club I'd probably want a lot more than you have."

There have been a few changes around the ballpark in recent years, including the addition of a standing-room viewing area above the centre-field wall and the installation of a traditional dirt infield.

There is no timeline in place for when the team might unveil potential renovation plans for the 49,286-seat venue.

[vaff87]

North_Of_Border should be an editor with some website or something. Write them some good sensationalist headlines.

[Scott Hall]

Could they fit all the possible renovations needed in a standard off season? If not there is nowhere else to
build a new stadium in downtown Toronto.

[C Court]

The Jays have been talking about renovations for a few years or more. One the tasks given to Shapiro was to upgrade the Rogers Centre, yet Rogers has not given him the green light to start.

The upper bowl hasn’t had a new coat of paint for 20 years or more. The seats and railings are rusting and old rusted SkyDome signs are falling off end of aisle seats. I get that it takes time and money, but the Jays have done nothing.

Over this past off season, cheap Rogers should have begun a multi-year plan to renovate Rogers Centre. They better start this November.

[So_Fresh]

Time to look at building another stadium. The dome is outdated in every way. Renovations won't do much imo. They should build a new one at Downsview Park. Lots of space and access to the TTC with the new subway station on Sheppard.

[C Court]

Rogers won’t spend the money on a new stadium. If a new stadium is to be built, it will be downtown.

[Yeezus_]

Rogers won’t spend the money on a new stadium. If a new stadium is to be built, it will be downtown.

There's no space downtown though.

[Scott Hall]

Imagine if renovations took a lot longer then 6 months and the Jays had to play part of the season
in Montreal until they were done

[dagger]

I think it's highly likely that renovations will proceed in a modular fashion, much like how the upper deck bar/food court was added to the ACC several years ago. It might mean closing off a level or part of one for a year, relocating season seat holders in the impacted area. It would cost Rogers far more to build a new stadium, and the location would be a lot less desirable. Merely demolishing the building would cost almost as much as renovating it, and the land sale, while would reap considerable money, wouldn't come close to offsetting those two costs - new stadium and demolition. Rogers can't easily sell the team without relinquishing control of TV rights, and as Richard Peddie says, it's hard to imagine a local buyer spending well north of a billion to buy the team and build/refurbish.

[Wo1verine]

Move the team to Montreal for 5 year or so demolish Skydome and rebuild.

[C Court]

The only feasible plan is to renovate Rogers Centre over a 3 to 5 year period.

[Scott Hall]

I think Madison Square Garden has been renovating in the off season for the last several years

[metafisical]

Rogers will build a new stadium when the City of Toronto and the Ontario Government (i.e., taxpayers) fund the lion's share of the costs so that Rogers shareholders will be at ease.

[Coco Costanza]

Rogers won’t spend the money on a new stadium. If a new stadium is to be built, it will be downtown.

There's no space downtown though.

Port Lands, maybe?

[manjusaka]

hum...expecting Rogers to reduce payroll in 2019 and renovating Rogers centre

[Coco Costanza]

It's too bad you couldn't build it where the Billy Bishop airport is. Have the city as the backdrop, build a bridge. It would be our answer to PNC Park.

[Skin Blues]

It's too bad you couldn't build it where the Billy Bishop airport is. Have the city as the backdrop, build a bridge. It would be our answer to PNC Park.

It'd be worth it just for the idea of a horde of fans waiting for autographs at the ferry terminal for all the players coming over from the mainland.

[Coco Costanza]

Plus, it was once home to a baseball stadium where Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run.

[JaysRule15]

Move the team to Montreal for 5 year or so demolish Skydome and rebuild.

I'd support this plan, but isn't Olympic Stadium falling apart and not safe to host 81 games though?

[Schad]

It's too bad you couldn't build it where the Billy Bishop airport is. Have the city as the backdrop, build a bridge. It would be our answer to PNC Park.

Solution: build a new island. Solve all problems by building small, single-purpose islands. Except for the logistical problems created by building small, single-purpose islands.