Outdated?

I was surprised to learn that the Blue Jays are deep into planning a replacement for Rogers Centre. Having visited the first ballpark with a movable dome a couple of seasons ago, I found it a more than likeable facility. Architecturally unique and fan friendly, it was the last of the round multi-purpose parks that symbolized the 1960s and '70s. And that's its biggest problem. This 31 year old venue hasn't aged well. And the Jays' parent company, the Canadian media giant Rogers Communications, would rather replace than renovate. 

Just four years after it opened as Skydome, the Orioles gave us Camden Yards, the first neo-retro park. A total game changer in not only being designed only for baseball, but offering the snug sightlines and ambiance of long-gone classics such as Ebbets Field and Shibe Park -- yet packing all the modern amenities fans and sponsors demand.

There'll be proposals and back-and-forth haggling with officials in Toronto. By the end of this decade -- and probably a few years before -- Rogers Centre will be just a memory, joining its peers the Kingdome, Metrodome and Olympic Stadium in the history books.




 

Comments

Unknown said…
Its a shame how the lifespan of these facilities has become so short. And they are not cheap to replace. I remember the promotional materials for Skydome said "Designed to last 100 years." When the Jays were good it was quite the tourist destination. A dome there is needed. Look at Arlington, an even younger park, already replaced.
November 30, 2020 at 9:16 AM
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