TORONTO — The Blue Jays announced plans Thursday for a $230 million renovation of Rogers Centre, their downtown home since 1989, but the changes will not include replacing the artificial turf with grass.
The renovation, which will be done in phases over the next two or three winters, will begin by adding raised bullpens in left and right field, adjusting the dimensions and heights of the current outfield wall and adapting the outdoor seating to add bars and patios, as well as a section of stands.
“The biggest focus has been on modernizing the fan experience,” team president Mark Shapiro said.
Shapiro did not disclose field dimensions and fence heights, saying they have not been finalized.
After the 2023 season, the team will reconstruct the lower bowl to create better sight lines and reduce the size of the bad areas, and will replace all the seats in the upper deck.
The Blue Jays will also use the renovation to renovate and expand the home clubhouse as well as player facilities such as weight rooms and practice areas.
Shapiro said the stadium’s overall capacity will be reduced after the renovations are complete, but could not say by how much.
The Rogers Center opened as the SkyDome in June 1989, the first stadium with a retractable roof in the major leagues. It is now the seventh oldest stadium among the 30.
Shapiro called the plans a “mid-term solution,” adding that the Blue Jays will eventually have to consider building a new stadium or undergoing even more substantial renovations to their current home.
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