rogers centre upgrades

Rogers Centre's interior is now totally unrecognizable as the stadium is gutted

The Toronto Blue Jays wasted little time after the team's postseason came crashing down on October 4, and immediately launched into the next round of a $300 million multi-year renovation for the aging Rogers Centre.

Construction work commenced soon after the Jays dropped their AL Wild Card series versus the Minnesota Twins. Crews from general contractor PCL descended on the dome and got right to work on tearing out the 100 Level seating to make way for a full reconstruction of the stadium's lower bowl.

Approaching three weeks since the Jays' season came to a disappointing end, the Rogers Centre's interior now looks totally unrecognizable as demolition of the lower bowl continues at an impressive pace.

Blue Jays fan account @TBJLive on X (formerly Twitter) has been tracking the renovation work, and captured some impressive views of the demolition process over the weekend as crews removed the last of the lower bowl seating.

Once the last of the seating was removed, work began on tearing away the supporting structure below, revealing bare concrete not seen by human eyes in over three decades since the lead-up to the stadium's 1989 opening.

The lower bowl will be fully demolished from foul pole to foul pole, and then reconstructed in a new configuration that reduces foul areas and brings fans closer to the action — a major step away from the venue's roots as a multipurpose sports stadium supporting football and baseball.

The team ownership promises that the renovations will introduce a "modern ballpark experience designed specifically for baseball viewing."

Fans will enjoy new seating similar to those introduced for the 500 Level in the 2022-23 off-season, offering added legroom, chairs with slatted backs for better airflow, adjustable armrests, and, perhaps most importantly, cup holders.

As for the old seating, Jays fans were shocked to learn that the original seats in place since the stadium's 1989 opening were unceremoniously dumped in a scrap heap north of Toronto.

The current phase of renovations is targeted for completion ahead of the Jays' home opener in April.

Lead photo by

@TBJLive/X


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Latest in Sports & Play

Is this Toronto Maple Leafs fan favourite on the trade block?

Still plenty of Toronto FIFA Fan Fest premium tickets remain unsold

Water park at Canada's Wonderland forced to delay opening date

Toronto Blue Jays looking into viral video of reckless Rogers Centre thrill-seekers

Son of Toronto Raptors legend Kyle Lowry looks like an unreal basketball player

These coaches have been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs' vacancy

Toronto Blue Jays fans are questioning player's new Batman-themed tattoo

FIFA World Cup price tag could exceed $1 billion in Toronto and Vancouver