Toronto concert venue Budweiser Stage is now RBC Amphitheatre, after Canada’s biggest financial institution bought the naming rights, Live Nation and RBC executives announced this morning at a press conference at Hotel X.
Labatt Breweries of Canada had held the naming rights since 2017 after the venue originally carried the name Molson Amphitheatre when it opened in 1995.
As previously announced in 2021, the lakefront concert venue, which currently has a capacity of 16,000 will also undergo a significant renovation to turn the seasonal outdoor venue into a year-round building that will maintain the 7,000-capacity lawn section from May through October, have an expanded capacity, and an indoor capacity of about 9,000 seats from fall to early spring.
“The venue will be redeveloped to a place where fans will be able to enjoy live music year-round by 2030, all supported by RBC’s investment,” Live Nation Canada’s President, business operations Wayne Zronik said. “Our focus in modernizing the RBC Amphitheatre was improving the fan and artist experience, creating a year-round live music guest admission for the city and fans from around the world. Operating year-round, the Amphitheatre is set to significantly increase its show cap, expecting to host more than 1.5 million fans a year.”
RBC Amphitheatre is expected to close for the first phase of build in the fall of 2027 and reopen in summer 2029 for outdoor concerts, with the rest of the renovations completed by summer 2030. The “transformation,” as Live Nation is calling it, for an undisclosed sum will be privately funded.
“As you can see from the images,” Zronik continued, referring to the renderings on either side of the stage, “the new Amphitheatre will be making a number of key improvements. A new acoustically-tuned space-frame canopy will utilize an operable fabric enclosure, giving the Amphitheatre four seasons’ use, with a winter capacity of roughly 9,000 fans. A second pedestrian bridge will be added to make getting to and from the venue easier and faster.”
“There will be a new lookout on the east edge of the lawn, increasing capacity, but also providing elevator access to the lawn to ensure that all areas of the venue are accessible. Sustainability will be at the core of the design. We are working to Toronto’s green standard that will operate in a way that minimizes environmental impact and reuse, and adapts various elements and structures that are already on the site.”
RBC has long positioned itself as a supporter of the Canadian music industry with its RBCxMusic platform, and of up-and-coming artists via RBCxMusic First Up and the RBC Emerging Musician’s Program with Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“At RBC, we believe that when people come together, good things happen, in our communities and across the economy,” RBC President and CEO Dave McKay said from the stage. “This partnership with Live Nation Canada is an investment in that belief. We’re incredibly proud to help transform RBC Amphitheatre to attract even more top performers and bring exceptional new music and entertainment experience to fans.
“As we further become a world-class, year-round live music destination, this will create hundreds of new jobs, join thousands of visitors, and boost local businesses across the region. With every performance at RBC Amphitheatre, Canada’s reputation as a great music powerhouse will continue to build.”
Concerts have already been announced for next summer at RBC Amphitheatre, including Cake (May 28), bbno$ (June 5), MGK (June 14), Bailey Zimmerman (June 18) and 5 Seconds of Summer (Aug. 5). RBC will have on-site fan activation spaces, including opportunities for ticket upgrades and giveaways.
Since 2004, RBC and the RBC Foundation have provided over $140 million to music and arts organizations across Canada, according to the press notes. In addition to RBC’s “concert cash” offer, in 2026 Avion Rewards members can pay for tickets to any Live Nation Canada show on Ticketmaster using their points.
