Toronto Blue Jays offer sneak peek into historic Rogers Centre renovation
Posted November 22, 2022 3:04 pm.
Last Updated November 22, 2022 3:47 pm.
The Toronto Blue Jays provided an update and an exclusive sneak peek into what the baseball club has called a historic $300-million renovation at Rogers Centre.
A team spokesperson said construction crews completed demolition last week on the 500 level of the baseball stadium, noting that it will be replaced entirely for the 2023 season and in time for Opening Day on Apr. 11.
The Blue Jays say Rogers Centre demolition began on Oct. 14 with 500-level seat removal and it was followed by structural demolition of the outfield beginning on Oct. 20.
The demolition concluded on Nov. 18 with the club saying it took approximately 21,000 worker hours to finish the job.
A sneak peek of the Rogers Centre 500-level renovations. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays.
It took one month to remove 17,000 old 500-level seats and railings. The team says that new 500-level stadium seats will be delivered and subsequently installed in January.
Blue Jays staff say the outfield turf has been protected or removed in certain areas to ease construction, while the infield remains accessible to continue offseason work.
There is also an earth-friendly angle to the project with staff confirming that 2.2 million pounds of materials were recycled from the dated stadium, including 1.3 million pounds of concrete and 900,000 pounds of steel and metal.
In July, team President Mark Shapiro and the Blue Jays unveiled a multi-year, privately funded Rogers Centre renovation with a central focus on modernizing the fan experience and building world-class player facilities.
The new projects will be phased over the coming two or three offseasons and focus solely on the interior of Rogers Centre, including the 100-level and 200-level outfield, 500-level and 100-level infield, and field level.
Work is also being done to improve the baseball club as the Blue Jays are reportedly interested in former National League MVP Cody Bellinger, who was recently released by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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The biggest renovation in Rogers Centre HISTORY is underway! pic.twitter.com/r3TlzpSX9r
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 22, 2022
