Rogers Centre, nestled in the heart of downtown Toronto, offers a distinctly urban baseball experience with its retractable roof, city skyline, and proximity to top attractions like Roundhouse Park. When the dome is open, the view of the illuminated CN Tower rising above right field adds a dramatic and unforgettable touch to the game-day atmosphere. While the stadium’s concrete-heavy design and steep upper decks can feel dated or cramped, it redeems itself with the lively and innovative Outfield District – a multi-level social space filled with bars, games, lounges, and even a DJ, Xbox consoles, and live music. Concessions are solid, with Dugout Deals stands providing affordable snacks and the adventurous poutine hot dog offering a uniquely Canadian twist. Outside, the Roundhouse Park area is a destination in itself, with spots like Steam Whistle Brewery and The Rec Room drawing big crowds and serving as the perfect pregame hangouts. While the fans were friendly and energetic – complete with chants, waves, and loyalty even in a late-game deficit – the stadium could benefit from better airflow, modernized concourses, and more visible team history throughout. Still, for a dome stadium, Rogers Centre delivers a memorable, uniquely Toronto ballpark experience.

We assessed the ballpark Design, Location, Concessions, Amenities, and Culture and finished with a Summary and Scoring.

Design

Architecture and Layout

The retractable roof was open during our visit, creating a cool space station vibe, especially at night when the CN Tower glows in the background. While it allows for ample seating and weather protection, it also traps air, making the concourses and enclosed ramps feel stuffy and even a bit smelly at times. The LED lighting system is efficient but designed with a retro flair – which unfortunately blocks views from some 500-level seats. The outfield fence is another quirky element, with varying heights and odd angles that felt more distracting than distinctive.

The exterior of the stadium is plain and largely unremarkable, blending in so much with its surroundings that one passerby even commented they thought it was just another office building. The most eye-catching feature is a quirky sculpture called “The Audience” – a group of cartoonish fans leaning out of a faux window, offering a playful but modest nod to what lies inside. Aside from that, there’s little about the façade that signals the energy or identity of a major league ballpark.

Skyline View

The CN Tower looms prominently beyond the first base side, giving the ballpark a dramatic and unmistakably Toronto backdrop. Surrounding the stadium are mostly modern glass-walled office buildings and apartments, many of which were still under construction during our visit. While not the most picturesque skyline compared to other parks, the urban setting – anchored by the iconic CN Tower – adds a distinct city vibe to the overall experience.

Design Depiction of Team and City History

Above the center field scoreboard, flags fly in honor of the Blue Jays’ championships and retired numbers, offering a traditional touch. On the 500 level, the Blue Jays Level of Excellence showcases the names of notable franchise players, creating a simple but meaningful tribute. Around the exterior, player banners highlight past and present stars, while a few current player photos are scattered throughout the concourses. However, historical storytelling inside the stadium was surprisingly minimal – with very little along the concourses to commemorate key moments, teams, or franchise milestones.

Functionality Including Ease of Getting Around & Accessing Main Area

The concourses throughout the stadium – especially on the upper levels – were narrow and often congested, making it tough to move around comfortably. Some areas on the 500 level felt downright institutional, with tight walkways and gray concrete surroundings that gave off a bit of a prison-like vibe. Access to the upper levels is available via ramps and elevators, but the ramps are fully enclosed concrete tunnels, which felt a bit gloomy despite being color-coded for navigation. While functional, the overall vertical flow and atmosphere could definitely use a refresh.

Scoreboard Visibility and Style

One of the standout features of the ballpark is the massive centerfield scoreboard, which anchors the stadium visually and functionally. It’s bright, vibrant, and features a large, easy-to-read font, making it one of the most viewer-friendly displays we’ve seen. The minimal advertising is a welcome touch, allowing the screen’s design and content to shine. Flanking the main board are two smaller stat boards that provide helpful supplemental info. A unique and impressive detail: one of the sideboards displays pitch movement data, breaking down both horizontal and vertical break – something we hadn’t seen in any other park and a treat for the stat-savvy fan.

Location

Vicinity to Fun Activities, Restaurants and Venues

The stadium is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto, making it easy to pair a game with local eats and nightlife. Fans recommended a wide range of nearby spots, including Front Street restaurants, Kelly’s Landing, Jack Astor’s, Loose Moose, Moxie’s, Sneaky Dee’s (known for its Emo Night), Steam Whistle, Amsterdam Brewhouse, The Rec Room, and of course, classic street meat vendors. We checked out Steam Whistle and The Rec Room, both located in the historic Roundhouse Park – and both were buzzing with pregame crowds. We even had a bit of fun climbing aboard some of the vintage trains in the park, adding a playful, nostalgic touch to the experience.

Ease to Reach

Our Airbnb we stayed at was fortunately within walking distance. Driving in Toronto was rough, and the drivers were horrible. We drove in from Buffalo and traffic was pretty heavy for most of the 2+ hour commute on a Friday afternoon. Be sure to scope out your travel plans in advance and give yourself plenty of time to allow for traffic.

Parking Availability and Cost

Parking in Toronto is very difficult. We fortunately stayed at an Airbnb that included parking in a garage and were able to walk. Parking rates seemed to average around $40 near the ballpark.

Safety of Surrounding Area

We didn’t encounter any safety concerns while walking around the area, even at night – downtown felt active and well-patrolled, with plenty of foot traffic near the stadium and surrounding attractions.

Concessions

Food Quality and Originality

Blue Jays fans recommended the poutine hotdog, which seemed like the thing to try at a Canadian ballpark. Scott said it tasted like Thanksgiving, lol. It was definitely a uniquely Canadian experience. We also tried the Oreo churro from Park Social. It was a chocolate churro topped with crushed Oreos and frosting, and was delectable. Blue Jays fans recommended trying the Westjet jerk chicken and brisket nachos. We would have loved to try these but unfortunately were too full.

Beverage Quality and Variety

The ‘OK Blue Jays’ Rum Punch cocktail in a keepsake cup was pretty and quite refreshing; it wasn’t as sweet as a typical rum punch. The local Mill St. Brewery Blue Wave tasted like a Kona Big Wave – light and a little hoppy.

Overall Value for the Money

The stadium features several Dugout Deals concession stands, offering budget-friendly eats and drinks – a nice surprise in a MLB park and a great option for fans looking to save a few bucks without sacrificing convenience.

Amenities

Available Suites and Special Areas Included

The Outfield District came highly recommended by fans – and it didn’t disappoint. Spread across the 100, 200, and 500 levels, it offers a wide range of social and interactive spaces. On the 200 level, the WestJet Flight Deck was especially lively, with a DJ spinning tunes, shuffleboard tables, and arcade games (including a nostalgic TMNT pinball machine). Nearby, the Kids Play Area featured a fun, free Marvel comic photo booth that we couldn’t resist. Up on the 500 level, the Corona Rooftop Patio Bar was buzzing with a live band and great energy, while the Party Social Zone featured Xbox Series X consoles loaded with MLB The Show, as well as games like Connect 4, cornhole, and even swings.

While the Stop and Catch Bar on the 100 level had appetizing food at decent prices, it wasn’t drawing much of a crowd. Several standing-room areas in the Outfield District were unfortunately closed off for private events during our visit.

Rogers Landing was packed, and the Score/Bet Zone offered a hitting challenge for fans. The stadium’s suites, located on the 300/400 levels, appeared to be ticket-restricted and not open for general access.

Family Friendly Activities

See above for Park Social and Westjet, which included kid-friendly activities. There was a lot set up outside of the stadium for pre-game kids activities, such as toys and bounce houses.

Restroom Quantity and Quality

The restrooms were pretty typical. I did like that they were color-coded red for women and blue for men.

Seating Comfort (including leg space and ease to reach)

The 500 level seats are extremely steep with limited legroom, and each row has a metal safety bar that further obstructs the view – especially for shorter fans. Scott only lasted three innings up there before the cramped space caused his legs to seize up. Neither the 500 nor 200 levels had cup holders, which felt like a surprising omission for a modern venue. In the 200 level, the low overhangs and poor audio made the experience feel closed off and disconnected from the action.

Team Store and Museum Inclusion and Quality

The main team store had a long entry line, as they limit the number of shoppers inside at a time – likely to control crowds but inconvenient if you’re in a hurry. Fortunately, there were smaller merchandise kiosks and storefronts scattered throughout the stadium, offering alternate spots to grab gear without the wait.

Culture

Overall Atmosphere (including music, sound and fan activities)

The sound system was noticeably loud in the upper levels, but oddly muffled in the 200 level concourses, where the concrete design seemed to insulate the noise. One fun twist on the usual in-game entertainment was a cap shuffle-style game turned memory match, offering a fresh take on the classic. During the 7th inning stretch, the crowd first belted out “OK Blue Jays,” a uniquely Toronto tradition, before launching into “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

Fan Enthusiasm and Friendliness

The stands were nearly full, and the crowd brought great energy, especially during the two home runs – which drew loud cheers and standing ovations. Even with the Blue Jays trailing late, most fans stuck around, showing impressive loyalty. The wave made several rounds through the stadium, and the overall vibe was upbeat and welcoming. Despite Scott rocking his Cleveland Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn jersey, there was no heckling – just friendly banter from a good-natured fanbase.

Integration of Franchise History in Game and Design

We didn’t notice a lot integrated into the game. Although we were walking around a lot and may have missed some stuff on the video board.

Mascot Involvement

The mascot is Ace, and we unfortunately didn’t see him during the game. Only saw him on the video board during the 7th inning stretch. We were walking around a lot so it’s possible we just missed him.

Celebration of Monumental Moments

Blue lights flash during home runs, which wasn’t very impressive. We didn’t notice much else.

Summary & Scoring

Date Visited: August 25, 2023
Game Played: Blue Jays 2, Guardians 5 – Boxscore
Design: – Dome with a retractable roof and looming view of CN Tower. Concourses left much to be desired.
Location: – In the heart of downtown Toronto, but that’s not necessarily a good thing if getting there is a nightmare. Nice surrounding area including the Round House Park train area with Rec Room and Steam Whistle.
Concessions: – Unique but mediocre poutine hotdog. Oreo churros were delicious. Loaded nachos looked good.
Amenities: – The Outfield District is a fun place to hang out, with social areas on 3 levels. Upper tier seats were extremely steep and uncomfortable, so splurge for 100- or 200-level seats.
Culture: – Lively fans but the team could do more to build the culture.
Overall: – The Rogers Centre, in the heart of downtown Toronto, has some nice views with the dome open and features a fun social area across the entire outfield. Other than that, there’s not much to get excited about.