WARMINGTON: Newly renovated Rogers Centre sure is a beauty to behold
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They rebuilt it and people will surely come.
It’s worth it.
If you can’t build a vintage ballpark, renovate to make it feel like one. If you didn’t know any different and were sitting down in the 100 Level, you would swear you were in an old-time ballpark from back in the good old days.
It seems that’s what the Toronto Blue Jays were going for with a more than $300-million renovation over two winters.
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WARMINGTON: Newly renovated Rogers Centre sure is a beauty to behold Back to video
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First it was the bullpen area that was modernized to create a better in-game experience and now it’s the new infield seats that have changed the look and feel of the Rogers Centre so much that you almost wouldn’t know where you were.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Sean, who was at his 47th home opener and knows every inch of the old SkyDome.
For the first time in a while, it took some navigating.
He would go to the games with his dad and now, for the first time, he brought his son Charlie, 12, to experience the excitement.
“I love it,” Charlie said of the new look.
An all-star pitcher himself, perhaps he will one day be out there on the field.
But for now he was enjoying these new digs from a fan perspective. In many ways the new configurations reminds me of old Tiger Stadium or the box seats along the field at Fenway Park.
It’s pretty neat.
It got a big thumbs-up from Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt’s brother Matt and Matt’s wife Allison, who were there with their children River, 2, and Sanders, 1.
“We are really enjoying it,” said Matt who hails from Ohio and said they will be there for three games.
Considerably higher up, there’s been a few tweaks a well, which are also very positive. Up in the 500 Level, they have opened some new accessibility areas that are fantastic.
“It’s right on top of the action,” said Joseph Mandool, who appreciates this spot because as a recent leg amputee from a car crash, he’s so glad he can come to the game with his cousin Michel and savour every minute of it.
While there’s always all sorts of commentary about the team on the field, there’s always something special about the home opener, no matter how the team is doing.
The only thing that would have made Monday night’s tilt against the Seattle Mariners a 10 out of 10 from a fan’s perspective would have been if the roof was open. The old parks didn’t have a roof.
But you have to give the Jays credit for these renovations because they have really upgraded the experience. It feels like a baseball park now.
But the nicest touch was seeing troops and the construction workers who did all the work upgrading this place sharing the duties of honouring our flag.
It was a great game as well.
From the footlong hotdogs sold by staffer Trindy to great energy from Jays Mascot Ace, that was fun down there.
And there are 80 more chances for fans to come down and check it out for themselves. Hopefully in the playoffs, too.
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