“,”heading”:””,”fullWindow”:false,”fullBleed”:false,”showFullBleedOnMobile”:false,”headColor”:””,”type”:”html5mobile”,”textColor”:””,”mobileImageUrl”:””,”bgColor”:””,”imageUrl”:””,”registeredOnly”:false,”linkUrl”:””,”aodaTitle”:”tweets”,”internalScroll”:false,”displayStyle”:”small-up”},”text”:”The revamps started with replacing all the seats in the 500 level, which had been there since the stadium opened in 1989. They also include raised bullpens and extended seats to the outfield walls, bringing fans closer to the field.”,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”Shapiro said the new spaces in the outfield were based on suggestions gathered from fans across the city, who were asked what would improve their experience at the ballpark.”,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”“We’re going to get our fans closer to our players, and probably closer to the visiting players than they want,” he said about the reasoning behind extending seats in the outfield. “We’re going to allow them to connect with each other and other fans in ways they never have before. It’s an opportunity to modernize fan experience.””,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”duration”:”83″,”fullWindowYoutube”:false,”uploadDate”:”2023-04-06T21:55:46Z”,”thumbnailSize”:”640×480″,”youtubeTags”:”Toronto Star,Toronto,Star,news,canadian news,canada”,”registeredOnly”:false,”description”:”The renovations are part of a multi-year $300 million investment to bring Jays fans closer to game action while having more options to enjoy themselves.”,”youtubeid”:”bpUfoohDHrs”,”type”:”youtube”,”title”:”Blue Jays hope Rogers Centre renovations will make it feel more like a ballpark”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bpUfoohDHrs/sddefault.jpg”,”channelTitle”:”Toronto Star”,”type”:”textBreakPoint”,”insertAt”:”contentMiddleBreakPoint”,”type”:”ad”,”heading”:”ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW”,”name”:”ArticleSecondBigBox”,”display”:”medium-down”,”pos”:”2″,”interstitial”:true,”sizes”:[[300,250]],”text”:”Four of these six neighbourhoods are named after corporate sponsors: “,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”type”:”articleRelatedInlinePrimary”,”type”:”ad”,”className”:”fresh-eight-ad”,”name”:”Fresh1″,”display”:”medium-up”,”pos”:”2″,”sizes”:[[728,90],[728,270]],”text”:”
- The improved WestJet Flight Deck on the 200 level in centre field.
“,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:false,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”
- The Schneiders Porch on the same level, with an open-air hot dog concession
“,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:false,”isHeading”:false,”id”:”1644006688897355778″,”type”:”twitter_tweet”,”text”:”
- The Catch Bar & Rogers Landing on the 100 level in right field, just above the visitors’ bullpen
“,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:false,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”
- And the Corona Rooftop Patio on the 500 level in right field which, once the weather allows for the roof to be open, will have the CN Tower towering above.
“,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:false,”isHeading”:false,”type”:”slimcut”,”text”:”Park Social, a park-themed area on the 500 level in left field, and The Stop, on the 100 level in centre field just behind the batter’s eye, round out the Outfield District. “,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”“The Stop is the best example of how we’re trying to bring the city into the ballpark,” said Jays director of fan services Christine Robertson. It features an open space in the outfield with murals depicting Toronto and the TTC, a bar and a food stand with Mexican, Caribbean and Asian cuisine.”,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”id”:”2e90d502-7f8b-4c8c-9d75-85c7e2f4b604″,”type”:”oovvuuVideo”,”type”:”cta”,”buttonText”:”Sign Up Now”,”buttonLink”:”/emails.html?nsrc=article-inline-sportsheadlines”,”description”:”Never miss the latest on the Leafs, Jays, Raptors and more with the Star’s Sports Headlines email newsletter.”,”title”:”Get more sports in your inbox”,”text”:”Like many new stands in the outfield, The Stop has a section with a Tap&Go option where fans can buy food and drinks without going to the concessions — an effort to improve speed of service. The name comes from the building’s original plan, which included a transit stop.”,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”“What the fans told us is that they wanted to see more variety and more diversity of food and drinks at the ballpark,” Robertson added about the food truck-style and patio-oriented items on offer in the Outfield District.”,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,{“type”:”relatedStories”,”relatedStories”:[“url”:”https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2022/07/28/blue-jays-seek-to-bring-fans-closer-to-the-action-with-rogers-centre-renovations-but-dream-of-grass-field-is-shelved.html”,”assetId”:”d99daafb-b030-43cc-b850-085ca64e38d9″,”headline”:”Gregor Chisholm: Blue Jays seek to bring fans closer to the action with Rogers Centre renovations — but dream of grass field is shelved”,”abstract”:”Upgrades to the 33-year-old ballpark will try to address problems with the stadium that critics say has too much concrete and not enough personality. “,”image”:”origImageSize”:”1200×688″,”cropthumb”:”66,0,1098,688″,”lastmodified”:1660618011642,”alt”:”A rendering provided by the Toronto Blue Jays shows a renovated Rogers Centre during Phase 1 with two “social decks” in the 500-outfield levels and new seats. 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Many have a few standing tables and seating areas that will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a drink rail for fans who stand while watching the game.”,”type”:”text”,”isParagraph”:true,”isHeading”:false,”text”:”While the main focus of this phase was the fans, players will also get access to a 5,000-square-foot weight room at field level. 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Gregor Chisholm: Blue Jays seek to bring fans closer to the action with Rogers Centre renovations — but dream of grass field is shelved
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Rosie DiManno: The Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre renovations show baseball entertainment has come a long way from condiment races
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The renovations are part of a multi-year $300 million investment to bring Jays fans closer to game action while having more options to enjoy themselves.
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The Blue Jays are trying to bring Toronto inside the Rogers Centre — literally.
With the home opener just days away, the team’s top brass unveiled Thursday what they have aptly termed the Outfield District — an amalgamation of six renovated neighbourhoods that are meant to improve the fan experience when they come to watch the games.
The renovations are part of the team’s multi-year, $300-million investment that aims to bring Jays fans closer to game action while also having more options to enjoy themselves at the park. All the new neighbourhood areas will be accessible to fans who purchase recently introduced $20 general admission tickets.
“Today is the start that we get to unveil the transformation of this stadium, transforming Rogers Centre from the stadium to a ballpark,” Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro said.
The revamps started with replacing all the seats in the 500 level, which had been there since the stadium opened in 1989. They also include raised bullpens and extended seats to the outfield walls, bringing fans closer to the field.
Shapiro said the new spaces in the outfield were based on suggestions gathered from fans across the city, who were asked what would improve their experience at the ballpark.
“We’re going to get our fans closer to our players, and probably closer to the visiting players than they want,” he said about the reasoning behind extending seats in the outfield. “We’re going to allow them to connect with each other and other fans in ways they never have before. It’s an opportunity to modernize fan experience.”
The renovations are part of a multi-year $300 million investment to bring Jays fans closer to game action while having more options to enjoy themselves.
Four of these six neighbourhoods are named after corporate sponsors:
- The improved WestJet Flight Deck on the 200 level in centre field.
- The Schneiders Porch on the same level, with an open-air hot dog concession
- The Catch Bar & Rogers Landing on the 100 level in right field, just above the visitors’ bullpen
- And the Corona Rooftop Patio on the 500 level in right field which, once the weather allows for the roof to be open, will have the CN Tower towering above.
Park Social, a park-themed area on the 500 level in left field, and The Stop, on the 100 level in centre field just behind the batter’s eye, round out the Outfield District.
“The Stop is the best example of how we’re trying to bring the city into the ballpark,” said Jays director of fan services Christine Robertson. It features an open space in the outfield with murals depicting Toronto and the TTC, a bar and a food stand with Mexican, Caribbean and Asian cuisine.
Like many new stands in the outfield, The Stop has a section with a Tap&Go option where fans can buy food and drinks without going to the concessions — an effort to improve speed of service. The name comes from the building’s original plan, which included a transit stop.
“What the fans told us is that they wanted to see more variety and more diversity of food and drinks at the ballpark,” Robertson added about the food truck-style and patio-oriented items on offer in the Outfield District.
All of the neighbourhoods have been equipped with food concessions and bars. Many have a few standing tables and seating areas that will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a drink rail for fans who stand while watching the game.
While the main focus of this phase was the fans, players will also get access to a 5,000-square-foot weight room at field level. There’s also a new players’ family lounge for spouses and kids.
In the off-season, the organization will begin the next phase of renovations with premium club seats in the lower bowl as well as new player amenities inside the stadium.
Seating capacity at the Rogers Centre has decreased by about seven per cent (from 44,750) to accommodate the additional spaces.
The first chance for fans to check out the changes will be Tuesday night’s home opener, when the Jays return from a 10-game road trip to host the Detroit Tigers.
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