Capacity: 49,282
Home Teams: Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
Though it has been officially named the Rogers Centre since the telecom giant purchased the naming rights in 2005, for Torontonians and Canadian baseball fans everywhere, it will always be known as the SkyDome. The domed venue with its retractable roof was conceived of in the 1980s in response to the rough weather that can hit Toronto in any season but gets particularly unpleasant in the fall. SkyDome opened in 1989 as the first-ever stadium with a motorized retractable roof, an innovation that would be copied in stadiums across North America and the world in years to come. The venue was initially built as a home for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Argonauts* of the CFL (Canadian Football League), and was used by the Toronto Raptors** of the NBA for their first four seasons while the team was waiting for their permanent home, the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena, which the Raptors share with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs), to be built. The SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) witnessed the two greatest events in Canadian baseball history when the Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, including one of the greatest moments in all of baseball history in 1993 when first baseman Joe Carter clubbed a towering three-run home run in the ninth inning of Game Six to win the game 8-6 and the series four games to two in front of a frenzied Skydome crowd. It was, and still is, only the second time that a walkoff home run had ever won a World Series. These days, the Rogers Centre is showing its age a little, but its superb location in central Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario next to the CN Tower make the dome an iconic fixture on the city’s skyline. As well as all regular season and playoff Blue Jays home games, Rogers Centre has been known to host college football games, international soccer matches, and even sports as diverse as UFC, tennis, cricket, hurling, and track and field. Large concerts are sometimes held at the venue as well as conventions and other business-related events. Hungry visitors at Rogers Centre will find plenty of delicious snacks on offer, with everything from poutine and sushi to nachos and pizza on offer. This being Canada, the stadium also caters for those visitors with vegan, vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free dietary restrictions. Beer can be found for sale everywhere in the stadium and you can get a hot dog for a loonie ($1 CAD) on Tuesday nights. For team and event merchandise featuring that cool Blue Jays logo, head to any of the many kiosks and shops around Rogers Centre.
*The Argonauts, who at 150 years old are the oldest professional sports team in North America still playing under their original name, no longer play at Rogers Centre, but instead share BMO Field with Toronto FC of the MLS.
**SkyDome proved a less than ideal basketball venue, with many seats so far away that spectators required binoculars to see what was going on!
Rogers Centre is a large venue that offers a wide range of diverse seating options to its visitors. Those looking for an exclusive gameday experience can apply for premium seating areas such as box suites or club seats with superior views and five-star food and beverage service. If you prefer a day at the ballpark that doesn’t break the bank, the stadium has seating options that cater to all preferences and budgets, ranging from moderately expensive seats closer to the infield to the cheap seats in the outfield and upper tiers. To find the cheapest tickets to events and games at Rogers Centre, TicketX is the place to be. Use our handy seating chart to compare and evaluate your different seating options to decide which tickets are best for you.
Visitors can access Rogers Centre via public transportation (sort of) or driving their own vehicle.
Getting to Rogers Centre using public transportation is fairly easy with the city’s subway connected to buses and streetcars that will get you to the stadium. Trains run from various locations (including Pearson Airport) as well. If you are planning on using public transportation, consider a GO Transit pass that comes with all kinds of perks and savings (kids 12 and under travel free, for example). Visit MLB’s official Blue Jays website for full details. It is also fairly easy to walk or cycle to the venue from certain downtown areas. If stuck, you could take a taxi or ride-share.
Driving to Rogers Centre is certainly possible, though it can be something of an ordeal given Toronto’s infamous traffic jams and huge suburban sprawl. If you do elect to drive, be sure to leave well in advance so that you do not end up missing your event. MLB’s official Blue Jays website for clear driving directions and maps, focusing on helping you find the best possible route to the stadium.
Yes, there is limited underground parking at Rogers Centre but it is not available to the general public on game days (only season ticket members). Several large parking lots in nearby neighborhoods can be found within a short walk of the ballpark. Visit MLB’s official Blue Jays website for parking details and maps. The Blue Jays highly recommend booking a prepaid parking spot in advance using ParkWhiz.
Prices vary a lot depending on day of the week, time of day, and popularity of the game or event, but expect parking to set you back $15-40 (Canadian dollars). Head to MLB’s official Blue Jays website to learn more about your available parking options and to book your prepaid parking pass in advance with ParkWhiz at the cheapest rates around.