Rogers Center/Sky Dome

by Christopher James

Title

Rogers Center/Sky Dome

Artist

Christopher James

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

An architectural marvel, the Rogers Center is home to Major League Baseballs only Canadian franchise, the Toronto Blue Jays. Opening in 1989, it was the first stadium with a retractable roof allowing any sport to be played indoors or outdoors, rain or shine. The idea to build a new stadium in Toronto began in 1923, but it was 63 years later when construction actually started. In the early 1970s Toronto began trying to lure a major league baseball team to the city, first trying to get the San Francisco Giants to relocate. They were unable to lure the Giants and sought to get MLB to expand to Toronto. In 1976 the city was awarded a major league franchise, the Toronto Blue Jays, who began playing in 1977. However, the city did not have a new stadium for the team to play at forcing the Blue Jays to play at Exhibition Stadium (primary a football stadium, but retrofitted to house baseball) for 12 seasons.
In 1983 sites for a new domed stadium were proposed. A site west of the CN Tower in downtown Toronto was chosen and groundbreaking ceremonies for the domed stadium were held on October 3, 1986. The stadium would be more than just a dome, it would feature a retractable roof and would be home to baseball, football and many other events. Naming the stadium was a way the public was able to participate in part of the stadium process as over 12,879 fans submitted a large variety of suggestions to name the stadium including names such as Alfresco Stadium, Railway Place and the Zipper Dome. The name chosen for the stadium was announced on May 11, 1987, Sky Dome. For more than 15 years the stadium was known as Sky Dome before being renamed. In February 2005, Rogers Communications bought the stadium for $25 million and renamed Sky Dome, the Rogers Center.

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August 5th, 2016

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