With a countdown, a ribbon cutting and a shower of balloons, the Toronto Blue Jays unveiled the renovations to the Rogers Centre outfield on Thursday.
The ceremony was preceded by brief speeches from Mark Shapiro, President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, Edward Rogers, chair of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers Communications.
“We’re going to get our fans closer to our players, probably closer to the visiting players than they want, but that’s OK,” Shapiro said. “We’re going to allow them to connect with each other and with our fans in ways they never had before.”
The outfield’s dimensions will be slightly smaller in centre field but the same along the foul lines. The walls have also been raised in several places around the diamond.
With Phase 1 of the renovations focused on fan experience, the new outfield district features four neighbourhood areas for spectators. General admission tickets to these areas will be $20.
The Catch Bar overlooks the new raised visitors’ bullpen in right field.
The Corona Rooftop Patio is a social area without seating on the 500 level.
Park Social is a family-oriented two-tier area designed to replicate sitting in one of the city’s many parks, located in the 200 level.
The Stop is a bar area in the centre field batter’s eye on the 100 level.
Small additions were also made to the WestJet Flight Deck.
Fans will be able to see the renovations live for the first time at the Blue Jays’ home opener on April 11 against the Detroit Tigers, which can be seen on Sportsnet and SN NOW.