Toronto is famous for its architecture and incredible structures. The metropolis impresses with its atmosphere and unique landmarks. Today, we’ll talk about one of them – Rogers Centre stadium. This stadium amazes visitors with its retractable roof. This is very convenient during bad weather when sporting events or football games are held on the field. You can learn more about Rogers Centre on the toronto-future.com.
How It All Began
The idea to build a new stadium emerged in the 1970s. During that period, the city was looking for a modern facility to host professional sporting events. Incidentally, the city’s Exhibition Stadium could no longer meet the high demands of the teams. Moreover, it was difficult to play at this stadium during rainy weather.
The motivation to create a new, modern stadium was fuelled by the Grey Cup game in November 1982. The game took place at the open-air Exhibition Stadium. It was a special game, as the Toronto Argonauts were making their first Grey Cup appearance since 1971. Unfortunately, the game was played in heavy rain, most spectators got soaked, and the washrooms were overflowing. The press even dubbed the game the ‘Rain Bowl.’
This situation angered city residents, and the very next day, a rally was organized near Toronto City Hall. Tens of thousands of people began chanting: ‘We want a dome!’
For over half a year, officials deliberated whether to build a new stadium in Toronto. In 1983, it was officially announced that a three-person committee would consider the feasibility of building a domed stadium at Exhibition Place. It’s worth noting that the commission considered various projects, and in 1985, an international design competition for the new stadium was announced, along with the selection of a different construction site.
Ultimately, the Robbie/Allen concept won. This design was considered the most reliable. The new stadium project was the brainchild of architect Rod Robbie and structural engineer Michael Allen. The construction of the new sports facility took about two years and cost the city $570 million Canadian dollars.
About the Construction and Name
It should be noted that several factors complicated the construction of the new stadium. On the site where the facility was to be built, there was an active water pumping station. This station needed to be relocated. But that wasn’t all; the soil was contaminated from centuries of industrial use, and railway structures had to be demolished or moved.
Additionally, many archaeological finds were discovered during construction. In total, over 1,500 artifacts were unearthed. They even found a 200-year-old French cannon here.
At the time of its construction, a stadium with such a design was a world first. That’s why they decided to maintain a simple design while using a strong dome shape. Proven technologies were also used during construction to move the roof.
Interestingly, the roof was 31 storeys high and consisted of four panels. The roof could fully open in just 20 minutes.
Officially, the new stadium was called the ‘Ontario Stadium Project,’ but in the press, the facility was referred to as ‘The Dome’ or ‘Toronto Domed Stadium.’ When construction was nearly complete, a survey was conducted among Toronto residents to choose an official name for the stadium. Over 150,000 people participated in the survey. As a result, the stadium in Toronto was named SkyDome. However, the stadium was later renamed Rogers Centre after the sports arena got a new owner.
Development of the Sports Arena
The official grand opening of the sports arena took place on June 3, 1989. And just two days later, the first Toronto Blue Jays game was held.
It should be added that smoking was banned in the stadium starting in April 2006. Incidentally, it was the first facility of its size to take this step.
As mentioned earlier, the stadium was renamed. This happened in 2005 after its acquisition by Rogers Communications. We should also add that the sports arena has been renovated and updated several times. In 2022, another reconstruction was announced. The new refurbishment of the sports arena is valued at almost $400 million.
The stadium serves as the home arena for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) and formerly for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). However, in 2016, the Argonauts returned to their former stadium, BMO Field.
Rogers Centre isn’t just used for sports competitions and games. The sports arena very often hosts numerous concerts and shows. Among the famous performers who have played at this stadium are world stars such as The Rolling Stones, U2, and others.
Rogers Centre is a unique stadium in Toronto, built at the end of the 20th century. Perhaps in modern times, a sports arena with a retractable roof doesn’t surprise anyone. However, in the 1980s, such a stadium was truly unique. Rogers Centre still holds a significant place in Toronto’s sporting and cultural life.
We hope you found our material informative and learned more about your home city.
How often do you visit Rogers Centre? We look forward to your comments on social media.
Sources: https://web.archive.org/web/20120303080852/http://www.tmptoronto.com/document_library/Rogers%20Centre.pdf https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/goodbye-skydome-hello-rogers-centre-1.549230 https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-5-1989-blue-jays-play-first-game-in-skydome/