Still affectionately referred to as the SkyDome by many Blue Jays fans, the Rogers Centre serves as the home of Canada’s only Major League Baseball franchise. Upon its opening, the stadium was considered an architectural marvel as it was the first in the world to feature a fully retractable roof, allowing events to take place year-round, regardless of Toronto’s often unpredictable weather. Toronto was awarded an MLB expansion franchise in 1976 after several failed attempts to relocate other teams, including the San Francisco Giants. However, the city lacked a dedicated baseball facility, and the Blue Jays played their first 12 seasons at Exhibition Stadium, a football venue retrofitted for baseball.

By the late 1970s, city officials began planning a state-of-the-art stadium. A site west of the iconic CN Tower in downtown Toronto was selected, with groundbreaking taking place on October 3, 1986. Designed as a multipurpose venue, the stadium was intended to host a variety of events in addition to baseball. A key feature was its retractable roof, enabling year-round use. The public was invited to submit suggestions for the stadium’s name, and over 12,879 entries were received, including names like “Alfresco Stadium,” “Railway Place,” and “Zipper Dome.” On May 11, 1987, the name “SkyDome” was officially chosen. For over 15 years, the stadium bore this name until February 2005, when Rogers Communications purchased it for $25 million and renamed it the Rogers Centre.

The SkyDome officially opened with a grand ceremony on June 3, 1989, where over 60,000 spectators witnessed the roof open for the first time. The Blue Jays made their stadium debut two days later on June 5, 1989, in front of 51,000 fans. The retractable roof, a hallmark of the stadium, consists of four independent panels. When opened, three panels stack over the fourth at the north end of the stadium. Weighing over 21 million pounds, the roof takes approximately 20 minutes to fully open or close.

The Rogers Centre features five seating levels extending from right-center field to home plate and to left-center field. Initially, the lower-level seats were moveable to accommodate football games, as the stadium also hosted the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) for many years. The pitcher’s mound could even be raised and lowered hydraulically when the stadium was not in baseball mode. Originally equipped with an AstroTurf field, the surface was replaced with FieldTurf before the 2005 season. The stadium boasts several unique features beyond its retractable roof. The Rogers Marriott Centre Hotel, located beyond the outfield, includes 350 rooms, 70 of which offer views of the field. In center field, a massive videoboard, upgraded prior to the 2022 season, spans 110 feet in width and 44 feet in height.

Following the 2022 season, the Blue Jays embarked on a multi-phase, $300 million renovation project to modernize the stadium and enhance the fan experience. The first phase, completed prior to the 2023 season, focused on the outfield area. Lower-level seating was extended closer to the new outfield walls, bringing fans nearer to the action. Raised bullpens were added, surrounded by bleachers, and four new social spaces with bars and patios were introduced on both lower and upper levels in the outfield. Additionally, all upper-deck seats were replaced with wider, darker blue seating, reducing the stadium’s seating capacity to 41,500. The second phase, completed after the 2023 season, involved demolishing and rebuilding the entire lower-level seating structure. This renovation introduced improved sightlines, upgraded seating, premium clubs, and additional social spaces. By the 2024 season, the transformation of the Rogers Centre was complete, creating a more intimate environment for fans to watch the Blue Jays play ball.

The Blue Jays have enjoyed significant success at the Rogers Centre, including back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. During this period, the team drew over four million fans per season. With its retractable roof open on a sunny afternoon and its prime downtown location adjacent to the CN Tower, the Rogers Centre remains one of the most unique and enjoyable venues to watch baseball.

Rogers Centre Pictures