The Blue Jays released a sneak peak of ongoing renovations to the Rogers Centre’s 100 level seating bowl, which are on track to be done by the Home Opener in spring 2024.
On Tuesday, the baseball team posted a video of the renovations on X saying, “From a stadium to a ballpark, Second phase of Rogers Centre renovations are underway!”
The 100 level seating bowl and structure was fully demolished at the end of the 2023 season to create a modern ballpark experience.
“Fans will enjoy a dramatically new 100 level seating bowl experience, in addition to the three new premium clubs and seating sections previously announced in April,” the team said in a news release back in July.
The new 100 level seating bowl will include a more comfortable experience with additional legroom, modern-shaped seats and adaptable, raisable armrest options. The bowl will also provide a greater variety of seating options with different vantage points from new sections and premium seating experiences.
This second phase of renovations is set to be completed by the team’s Home Opener on Apr. 8, 2024.
DEMOLITION AND EXCAVATION DETAILS SO FAR
The team says the structural demolition of the lower bowl took place from Oct. 13 to 26, with 29.5 million pounds of materials removed and recycled in 13 days. This included 26.5 million pounds of concrete and three million pounds of steel, according to a news release.
To help with the excavation, a temporary bridge was installed over the site of the former seating bowl, the team says. At the peak of the excavation work, 10 excavators were on site with 344 trucks moving in and out of the centre over the temporary bridge in one day.
The Blue Jays say an average of 350 workers have been on the site daily, which represents more than three times the number of workers compared to phase one demolition.
As for the new additions, the first structural steel column was put up on Nov. 13. The Blue Jays say a total of 2.4 million pounds of structural steel was fabricated off site and will be installed at the Rogers Centre to finish the project.
Back in July 2022, the team announced the $300 million-plus, multi-phase privately funded renovation of the Rogers Centre to be completed between 2024 and 2025.
The first phase was completed ahead of this year’s season, complete with a new Outfield District with five distinct neighbourhoods and social spaces for everyone who has a ticket.
This is the first large-scale renovation the Rogers Centre has implemented since it opened in 1989.
