matthewweaver.com | mlb ballparks

Ballpark:
When it opened in 1989, Rogers Centre (formerly known as SkyDome) became the first retractable domed baseball park. The four-piece roof consists of three rectangular pieces that open to a stack over the center field seats and a half-moon-shaped piece that rotates around the stadium to rest under the stack. The roof, which runs on tracks at the top of the stadium walls, can open in about 15 minutes and will many times open during the course of a game - weather permitting, of course.

The park has a massive JumboTron video board in center field (which was not common in the early 1990's) a Hard Rock Cafe, the Windows restaurant and a hotel that has some rooms overlooking the playing field. Pretty unique...even today. Guests who get the right rooms can watch the game from the comfort of their suites and many times post signs in attempts to get on TV. In fact, one exhibitionist couple created a diversion by having sex at their hotel room window - yes, many people saw it. :)

You had best like the taste of McDonald's if you go there. Except for the center field restaurants and a sports bar near home plate, all major concession stands are controlled by Mickey D's. The only positive is that the food is cheaper than in the U.S. due to the exchange rate. (But you still have to eat McDonald's...yuck.)

The oval stadium was unique to baseball for many years and is a decent place to catch a game. They did replace its dreaded AstroTurf with the better AstroGrass, but the park is now one of the more average ones in the Majors. I give it a "B-" rating.

How to get there:
From Buffalo, follow the QEW all the way into Toronto. From Toronto Airport, take Route 427 to the QEW. Where 427 meets the QEW, take Gardiner Expressway (along Lake Ontario) east into downtown. Exit at Avenue Street and Rogers Centre is right next to CN Tower on King Street. Ultimately, look for CN Tower if you get lost. Its the tallest structure in North America, so just drive toward it if all else fails.

City:
Toronto is a cosmopolitan city with people from just about every nation living within its limits. It the closest thing to San Francisco that I have found away from the West Coast. The city is within a short drive from Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit, so there is an American feel to the town, except that you hear "eh" and "aboot" more often. The only complaint that I had while hanging out there is that far too many people smoke for my personal taste.

Stuff to do while there:
You must arrive at the ballpark early and take a trip up to the observation deck of CN Tower (no, its not "CNN Tower" - it was named after the Canadian National Railroad). The Tower's 1,000 foot perch over the city provides a tremendous view of Lake Ontario and the city, as well as a bird's eye view of SkyDome. On a nice day, they will open the roof a few hours prior to the game and you can peer right into the top of the park (see photo at top right).

Toronto has a vibrant nightlife, as well as many cultural events, theatres and museums. You can also catch a Maple Leafs hockey game or a Raptors basketball game in the Air Canada Centre just down the street. The Argonauts of the Canadian Football League also play in SkyDome and the CFL season starts a lot earlier than the NFL, so you can catch a game even before the weather turns cold.

Story:
My brother Kyle and I drove to Toronto to catch a game on a beautiful Saturday in May. We stopped by Niagara Falls for a while and drove up to Toronto by 2:00 pm. We went up in CN Tower and were at the ballpark by 3:00 pm for the 4:00 pm start. We had a great time and drove back to Cleveland that night.

Fun facts:
The Blue Jays are the only team in the Major Leagues to play a song other than "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at the 7th Inning Stretch. Instead, they play a ridiculous song called "OK Blue Jays". It's a travesty if you ask me.

Rogers Centre is the first retractable dome stadium in Major League Baseball history.

SkyDome (the name at the time) was the first park outside the borders of the United States to host a World Series game - in 1992.

The Blue Jays played in a converted football/soccer complex - Exhibition Stadium - from their inception in 1976 until the opening of SkyDome in 1989. Many early and late season games were miserable due to the weather and fan attendance was poor until the park's arrival.

The ballpark's original name was chosen from thousands of entries in a contest. The park is now named for a large Canadian telecommunications company.

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An empty SkyDome as seen
from high above in CN Tower
May 30, 1998

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CN Tower peering into SkyDome as seen from the third baseline
May 30, 1998

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A large contingent of Tribe Fans cheer the team from left field
May 30, 1998

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The view behind home plate during the top of the 9th inning
May 30, 1998

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"Centre" field at SkyDome
May 30, 1998