Rogers Centre

Rogers Centre - the most important information

Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a multi-purpose retractable roof stadium in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated just southwest of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. His significance is outstanding and it represents an important symbol for Canada and its culture. This center is the essence of sports and all big manifestations such as concerts, circuses, conventions, and monster truck shows. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Previously, the stadium was also home to the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. At one time in history, even the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League played annual games at this stadium.

History of the Rogers Centre

The contemporary impetus for building an enclosed sports venue in Toronto came following the Grey Cup game in November 1982, held at the outdoor Exhibition Stadium. That day the weather was terrible and the visitors had to stay outdoor in the rain and eventually even the washrooms overflowed. That day is known as "the Rain Bowl", after which the talks of building closed stadium starter. Eventually, the stadium was designed by architect Rod Robbie. The stadium's construction lasted about two and a half years, from October 1986 to May 1989. The approximate cost of construction was $1.04 billion, which was paid for by the federal government, Ontario provincial government, the City of Toronto, and a large consortium of corporations. During the years the stadium was repaired several times and it widened its capacity so today there are numerous football, basketball, baseball, motorsport, wrestling, and other manifestations.

Opening hours and tickets

When we talk about Rogers Centre you have numerous things to see and discover. Ticket prices depend on the seats, the times, and the event but if you are interested in a tour inside the stadium here are some of the prices:

Adults: $16.00
Seniors (65 +): $12.00
Youth (12 - 17): $12.00
Children (5 - 11): $10.00

On the other hand, if you are interested in any event you can check at the box office which works in these hours:

Tuesday - Saturday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
Sunday & Monday: Closed

Box Office opens at 10:00 am on event days. Hours given here are for the box office. Showtimes vary by event. You can see every specific timetable of the events or prices of the tickets and buy them on the official website of the Centre.

How to get to the Rogers Centre

You can get to Rogers Centre by Bus, Subway, Train, or Streetcar. Here are some of the stops closest to your destination: Queens Quay West at Rees St; King St West at John St East Side; Bay St at Lake Shore Blvd W; Bay St at Front St West South Side (Union Station); Union Station Bus Terminal; Front St West at Bay St East Side (Union Station). These are the lines and routes that have stops nearby:

Bus: 19, 21, 72, 97
Train: LE, LW
Subway: 1

Rogers Centre trivia:

There are some interesting facts about Rogers Centre:

The official name prior to and during construction was the 'Ontario Stadium Project' but was widely referred to in local media as simply 'the Dome' or 'Toronto Domed' stadium. As completion neared the name "SkyDome" was chosen as part of a province-wide "name the stadium" contest in 1987. Sponsored by the Toronto Sun, ballots were offered for people to submit their suggested name, with lifetime seats behind home plate to all events at the stadium (including concerts) as the prize. The selection committee narrowed it down to four choices: "Towerdome", "Harbourdome", "SkyDome", and simply "the Dome".
The stadium officially opened on June 3, 1989, and hosted an official grand opening show: "The Opening of SkyDome: A Celebration", broadcast on CBC television the following evening hosted by Brian Williams. With a crowd of over 50,000 in attendance, the event included appearances by Alan Thicke, Oscar Peterson, etc.
World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania X8 attracted the largest paid crowd to SkyDome. March 17, 2002, the event gathered 68,237 fans.
When the retractable roof is open, people standing on the observation deck of the nearby CN Tower can look down on the field.
The original mascot of the stadium was a turtle by the name of Domer. Domer has not been widely used since the mid-1990s.
Rogers Centre has hosted regular-season games of five of the six major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada throughout the stadium's history; all but a National Hockey League game.