Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Rogers Centre 1 Blue Jays Way Toronto, ON M5V 1J3 Canada
Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 39,150
The (Blue) Afterglow
After the fairy tale, roller coaster ride that was the 2025 Major League Baseball season, the Toronto Blue Jays were left to pick up the pieces after a heart breaking, Game 7, extra-innings loss to the Dodgers in the World Series. Time marches on and the optimism for the 50th Anniversary Season was at an all time high. Play on the field did not match that optimism and the Jays, amid key injuries and poor performances, could not come close to repeating the previous season.
Changes continued at Rogers Centre with an eye on history as the driving force. The 50th Anniversary of the team would lead to what seems like the completion of the reimagining of Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays and owners Rogers Communications, seem to have quieted the critics of Rogers Centre for the time being.
Food & Beverage 4
Rogers Centre provides a solid culinary experience for patrons. Hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and popcorn are all readily available. There are several different hot dog and burger options. Pizza is provided by Pizza Nova and soft drinks are provided by the Coca-Cola family of beverages. The alcoholic beverage and specifically beer options are massive.
Fans could head to the WestJet Flight Deck on the second level past centrefield for possibly the best beer selection in the building. For fans who are looking for something a little more unique, grabbing a chicken sandwich at Mary Brown’s, a Canadian chain originating from Newfoundland, or some Apple Brisket or Jerk Chicken Nachos, would be the way to go. Rogers Centre has increased the number of “Tap and Go” facilities offering a quick in and out for easy to grab items. Of particular interest are Loonie Dog Tuesdays. Hot Dogs are only $1 on these special days and the variety of concession items definitely decreases on these days to accommodate the massive promotion.
Atmosphere 4
The biggest area of deficiency at Rogers Centre remains the exterior. Dominated by exposed concrete, Rogers Centre is a massive structure. The entrances remain bland as compared to contemporary ballparks and there is no “main entrance” to the stadium. The north side of the stadium, where the Marriott which is part of Rogers Centre, would probably be considered the front. Also, compared to modern ballparks, the footprint of the grounds is relatively small with not too much space around the exterior of the stadium. Two bronze sculptures at the top of the north side of Rogers Centre, “The Crowd” and “The Fans” highlight the exterior. To the delight of Blue Jays fans, the bronze statue of Rogers founder, Ted Rogers, previously found by Bremner Boulevard has been moved to a corporate location. In its place is a monument to the World Series winning teams in the form of the iconic pose of Joe Carter rounding the bases after his game winning home run in 1993.
The inside of the Rogers Centre can be dark. The 100 level is generally the spot to be before the game. The best concessions can be found here and past left field, the pre and post-game show with Jamie Campbell of Rogers Sportsnet can be found. The other major improvement for 2026 is the reimagining of the Level of Excellence. August of 2026 saw the opening of the new Hall of Excellence which honours the members of the level, with each member having a personal display including artifacts and highlights. Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards are also highlights of the new area. An interactive QR code allows fans to vote for the next member of the Hall.
The 100-level concourses are fairly open, considering the age of the building. The videoboard is massive and engulfs an entire level. Above the videoboard are the championship banners of the 1985, 1989, 1991, and 2015 American League East banners along with the 2016 ALDS and a single banner for the 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2023 Wild Card teams. Nestled neatly in there are the 1992 and 1993 World Series banners. Joining them is the brand new 2025 American League East and ALCS Championship banner. The Jays nod to history continues with the level of excellence, located on the facia of the fourth level and includes Halladay and Gillick, joined by Tom Cheek, Carlos Delgado, Joe Carter, George Bell, Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, Paul Beeston, Cito Gaston and Jose Bautista. Inducted into the Level of Excellence in late August, 2026 is Buck Martinez, having served the Jays as a player, manager and broadcaster. After an MLB investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and his placement on the ineligible list, Baseball Hall of Fame member Roberto Alomar has been removed from the Level of Excellence.
A number of displays have opened in the Outfield District on the 100 level that, hopefully, are permanent. The most prominent is the display with the 1992 and 1993 World Series trophies. New displays provide a wonderful walk through all eras of Toronto Blue Jays history.
In the 500 level, the right field and left field sides of the Jumbotron each have social areas. The right field area is where fans will find the Corona Rooftop Patio, a bar area that often features live pre-game music. The left field side is where fans will find the TD Park Social area, which features Muskoka chairs, cornhole, and a huge chalkboard. Each side, although similar, has a different vibe and both have been extremely popular. The bullpens have been raised and each is well within shouting distance of fans. The symmetrical outfield fence design has been jettisoned for some differing heights and distances, making it a little more unique than previous. The visitors bullpen in right field is also near a new area, the Schneider’s Porch, which is on the 100 level and popular as well. Rogers Landing and Club 328 are also popular areas in the lower bowl. All of the 100 level seats have also been replaced and improved sightlines have come with the new seating orientation, specifically in the outfield corners. The outfield dimensions have also changed slightly and there are now a few other corners and wall heights that generally make the ballpark more interesting.
The game day production at Rogers Centre is good. At one time, the Blue Jays went overboard with sound effects between pitches. That has been toned down a bit. The Jays promotion team does their thing throughout the stands and the Jays mascot, Ace, interacts with fans. Typical baseball promotions and the like are peppered throughout the game, but the highlight of the Jays experience is the Seventh Inning Stretch. Before the seemingly mandated “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” the Jays play their song and the eerily catchy “OK Blue Jays” is belted out to the delight of the crowd.
Neighbourhood 5
Rogers Centre is perfectly located. There is not a better location in the city for the Blue Jays to be. Downtown Toronto is a fantastic spot to make an afternoon, a weekend or an entire vacation. There are a huge number of locations where one can eat before or after the game. Fans looking for a true culinary experience, may want to ascend to the top of the CN Tower to the 360 Restaurant. For fans looking for a more traditional pre-game experience then The Loose Moose, The Pint Public House, or Steam Whistle Brewery are good options. Front Street and Bremner Blvd have a plethora of dining options. The Sportsnet Grill is located inside the Toronto Marriott, the hotel at Rogers Centre, and offers views of the field where fans can eat and drink and watch the game.
An entire vacation can be had in downtown Toronto. The CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada are right there by the Rogers Centre. The Rogers Centre does offer tours, which have improved drastically since their reintroduction. The Theatre District may be second only to Broadway in New York City as far as stage entertainment is concerned. Right across the road from the Rogers Centre is Toronto Railway Museum. Fans may also want to take the Steam Whistle Brewery Tour, which is also across the road. However, no trip to Toronto is complete without a trip to see the Hockey Hall of Fame.
For fans looking for other sports, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Marlies,Toronto Sceptres and Toronto Maple Leafs all play within minutes of the Rogers Centre. The University of Toronto is just north of the Rogers Centre and the Varsity Blues field football, basketball and hockey teams among others. A truly unique experience may be to check out Toronto Metropolitan University Bold hockey or basketball at the former Maple Leaf Gardens.
Of course there are a ton of places that you could stay in downtown Toronto. A unique experience would be to stay right in the stadium at the Toronto Marriott City Centre. Another unique experience would be to stay at one of the most significant historical hotels in all of Canada, the Royal York. A little more affordable would be the Delta and Strathcona, however you are going to pay to stay downtown no matter what you choose.
Fans 4
The 2026 has been a very successful one for the Blue Jays at the turnstile. At the time of writing, very late in the 2026 season, the Blue Jays ranked 4th in Major League Baseball in attendance, averaging over 41,000 fans per game. This is up from the previous season’s average of over 35,000 fans per game and a rank of 9th. Blue Jays fans are fairly ardent and supportive, although Ontario fans are not terribly loud in general. July and August are big tourist months for the Blue Jays as they embrace their role as “Canada’s Team” and welcome fans from all across the country. It will be interesting to see how attendance reacts to a poor 2026 season in 2027.
Access 4
The Rogers Centre can be challenging to get to as Downtown Toronto traffic can be difficult. Rogers Centre is located right by the Lakeshore in Downtown Toronto. Driving to the stadium will be difficult as motorists must take either the Gardiner Expressway or Lakeshore Blvd. Hitting the road earlier as opposed to later is always the best idea. With the increased attendance due to a more consistent team on the field and the new ballpark features, driving away from Rogers Centre has become increasingly frustrating and time consuming.
The bad traffic downtown is mitigated by the fantastic public transit options. Rogers Centre is just a couple of blocks from Union Station. The TTC subway, GO Transit and Via Rail are all major presences in Union Station. Along Spadina you will find the TTC street car. Any public transit info can be found at the TTC and GO Transit websites.
Decent parking can be found downtown, however depending on the day it can greatly fluctuate. Most days you can find parking within walking distance of the Rogers Centre for around $15. On one of those special days, the same parking space can go for $40. The face of downtown Toronto is constantly changing and the parking situation becomes more perilous with the increase in condominium construction. ParkWhiz and SpotHero options are now more prevalent downtown and should be consulted.
The concourses in Rogers Centre are pretty wide and getting around is not too difficult. The stadium would have benefitted from escalators. The majority of fans will travel up and down with long trips around traditional stadium ramps. The washroom facilities are plentiful and on most days more than adequate.
With security protocols and procedures in constant flux, Stadium Journey strongly suggests visiting the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre websites for the most up-to-date security information before heading to the stadium, including bag policy and prohibited items.
Return on Investment 3
Ticket prices for the Toronto Blue Jays have once again increased. Access to the stadium, without an assigned seat is available for $25 and 500 level seats are now expected around $50. Lower level seats are all over $100. Parking and concessions can both be expensive. Although the experience at Rogers Centre has improved dramatically over the last five years, the subsequent skyrocketing costs make a trip to the Jays more of an annual trip for locals rather than a regular one.
Extras 4
An extra mark for the innovation that the Rogers Centre brought to Major League Baseball. The huge videoboard, upgraded luxury boxes, retractable roof and in stadium restaurants were all pioneered in Toronto.
An extra mark for ballpark tours returning to Rogers Centre.
An extra mark for the transition of Rogers Centre from stadium to ballpark.
An extra mark for the brand-new Hall of Excellence and the promise of more members joining shortly. (Vote Tom Henke!)
Final Thoughts
The 2026 season for the Toronto Blue Jays has definitely been a disappointment on the field. However, Rogers Centre remains a venue that is changing with the fan experience in mind. Taking in a Blue Jays game while in Toronto is part of the city life and fans won’t be disappointed.
