Archinect - News 2024-05-21T17:30:15-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150318727/populous-will-help-the-toronto-blue-jays-modernize-the-rogers-centre-for-the-first-time-in-33-years Populous will help the Toronto Blue Jays modernize the Rogers Centre for the first time in 33 years Josh Niland 2022-08-01T13:20:00-04:00 >2024-03-15T01:45:58-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/77/7715a6dac220b23f215c1e9f1ed4e75b.png?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The Toronto Blue Jays baseball team has unveiled its first round of new upgrades to the Rogers Centre. They claim it will turn their 33-year-old home into a modern player and fan-experience-oriented baseball facility thanks to a privately-funded $300 million CAD ($234 million USD)&nbsp;effort.</p> <p><a href="https://archinect.com/populous" target="_blank">Populous</a> has been tapped to handle all aspects of the renovation, including creating new social areas across three levels, replacement of aging seats, reworked outfield and bullpens, and new family and training areas for the team.&nbsp;The firm had previously worked with the Blue Jays to hasten a series of similar enhancements to its&nbsp;<a href="https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/05/18/novelty-wears-off-for-blue-jays-in-dunedin/" target="_blank">Spring Training facility</a> before the start of last year's season, the first six weeks of which had to be played in Florida.</p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c0/c0fa9fb37cc207b7c186b6552b43d569.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c0/c0fa9fb37cc207b7c186b6552b43d569.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image render courtesy of Populous.</figcaption></figure><p>This will constitute the first time any architectural firm has laid its hands on the former SkyDome in any significant way since Rod Robbie&rsquo;s 53,506-seat venue debuted as the world&rsquo;s <a href="https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/06/12/raising-the-roof-the-opening-of-torontos-skydome-a-500-million-sports-arena-complete-with-retractable-roof-revealed-a-surprisingly-intimate-baseball-park-and-gave-a-glimpse-into-the-future" target="_blank">first-ever retractable roof stadium</a> ...</p>