Reviews are very mixed for first-ever concert at Toronto's new Rogers Stadium

Toronto's anticipated and record-setting new music venue, Rogers Stadium, made its official debut this weekend, the culmination of a speedy nine months of construction ahead of a stacked inaugural season full of big-name artists.

Given the short timeline to create what was being billed as the city's largest purpose-built music venue and biggest outdoor stage, some feared the project wouldn't actually come to fruition before the first scheduled performance on June 29. Or, at least, that the night would end up a haphazard sh*tshow at best.

And, in the opinion of some, that latter prediction rang at least somewhat true.

Sunset at @Rogers_Stadium @StrayKidsGlobal pic.twitter.com/MhL5qJYl0k

— Tammy Parris (@TammyCParris) June 30, 2025

Viral K-pop sensations Stray Kids christened the outdoor stage Sunday evening, drawing more than 50,000 fans to pack the 44-acre site at YZD (formerly Downsview Airport lands).

But, as much as the night went off without any major hitches, some guests were left disappointed and even concerned by the end result after months of hype for the temporary attraction.

Between photos on social media of what looked to be a stunning sunset from the vantage point of the Rogers Stadium stands, there were grievances about overcrowding, lack of measures in light of the day's extreme heat, inadequate staffing and organization, and other safety concerns. 

SKZ DID AMAZING IN TORONTO LAS NIGHT BUT ROGERS STADIUM!?? I have beef witchuWHY WOULD U MAKE US WALK SO FAR IN THAT HEAT WITH NO SHADE AND PEOPLE IN THE STANDS HAD NO SHADE TF

— jay (@lovesanflower) June 30, 2025

X and Reddit in particular are rife with claims that the venue experience was "terrible and unsafe," with too-little shade, scarce and difficult-to-locate water stations, and poor guidance in the aftermath of the gig.

Some cited not being "allowed" to leave for some time, and, when they finally were able to exit, finding it a chaotic, difficult and directionless feat.

One attendee called the venue a "nightmare," detailing their experience in a lengthy post on the Toronto subreddit stating that Sunday's "venue logistics were horrible."

Their complaints ranged from worryingly lax security and deplorable wayfinding on-site to uncomfortably small washrooms and generally poor accessibility. Though they noted that the stands themselves seemed "surprisingly sturdy," their pain points overall outweighed the positives.

"The worst part was leaving the venue because it was dark, I saw several people falling. There was 51k people trying to leave, but there was little-to-no signage of where to go," they explained.

"There were staff near the exits holding traffic wands and telling people to head left if they were going to the rideshare area, which led to the surreal experience of just walking across a sprawling airport field. There were no signs, so I just followed the people in front of me and hoped for the best. [Other gates] were apparently even more of a nightmare."

Rogers Stadium is a nightmare
byu/hushwonderland intoronto

Others echoed their concerns in the comments, with one local saying that, as someone who lives nearby and had to weather the messy aftermath of the kickoff performance, it seemed "absolutely no forethought or planning went into this."

Many seemed to share the sentiment that the night felt "dangerous" at points with a "crazy amount of walking to get anywhere" on the property and poor crowd control.

At the same time, though, this negative perception didn't resonate with all among the dozens of commenters.

Leaving was an absolute disaster. I predicted that it would be when we walked in - so how did no one whose job it is to notice these things, anticipate this? It was straight up dangerous. Build a lot. There’s plenty of room.

— Kelly Mahalak (@KellyMahalak) June 30, 2025

"I was there, and on the flip side, the vibes were immaculate. The transition from sun to sunset to night was beautiful," one person wrote.

"I took the TTC and it was smooth, no complaints in or out via Downsview Station.... there were also larger toilet stalls available and separate urinals at other parts of the stadium. Because the grounds are so large, it was difficult to navigate, but definitely doable," continued their take.

Another fan who wrote their own Reddit post about the night seemed to be on a middleground about the whole ordeal, citing a fantastic show with great sound and effects, as well as an easy time getting to the site; but, at the same time, an absolutely "f***ed," "claustrophobic" exit experience with the bottlenecks and an apparent lack of organization.

Some have also pointed out in comments that because the stadium has been explicitly advertised as a short-lived destination — to be demolished in a matter of years for redevelopment into a mixed-use community — "perhaps people may have set their expectations somewhat high given what this venue is intended to be."

blogTO has reached out to Live Nation and Rogers Stadium for comment on how the first event went, and has not yet received a response at the time of publication.

Forthcoming shows at the stadium include Coldplay on July 7, 8, 10 and 11; Blackpink on July 22 and 23; Oasis on August 24 and 25; System of a Down and Deftones on September 3 and 5; and Hozier on September 10.

The property's official address is 105 Carl Hall Road in North York, and customers can access free TTC and GO transit service home on event nights.