Скачать или смотреть The Rogers Centre gets a brand new lower bowl for fans to enjoy

Canada’s major league baseball experience is changing.

The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to hit a home run with fans with a completely reimagined lower level at the Rogers Centre. This is the final phase in a multi-year project.

The 100-level lower bowl at Rogers Centre went through some major changes in less than a year.

“Foul pole to foul pole on the in-field, we demolished the entire bowl, and re-built a seating bowl that feels more like a ballpark,” said Marnie Starkman the Executive Vice President of Business Operations of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The $300 million project saw around 350 workers tearing up the entire lower bowl.

The lower bowl features new wider seats with cup holders and additional legroom plus re-angled seats to ensure the best view for spectators.

“I think that’s one thing that fans probably didn’t really realize, was the bowl was so symmetrical and built for multi-purpose, that a lot of fans looked out into the outfield or out to centre field,” said Starkman.

However, the seats are not the only thing getting changed, the diamond itself and the dugout also got a facelift.

Both dugouts were completely re-designed during the renovation. The field’s turf was completely replaced. Since the Toronto Argonauts no longer play at Rogers Centre, it can be a permanent baseball stadium.

“Previously when the Argos were playing here we had to have a convertible system, so our turf was literally rolled up and removed from the field,” said Tom Farrell, Director of Field Operations of the Toronto Blue Jays. Now because the field is permanent Farrell says they can do different things.

“We have three main priorities, player safety being number one, playability being number two, and number three aesthetics, and we’ve been happy with all three of those components,” said Farrell.

The first stage of the renovation was completed in April of last year, it saw all 500 level seats in the stadium replaced and room was made for five pen social spaces.

The Blue Jays also introduced some new food items on the menu for this season, including crush floats, maple bacon hot dogs, cannolis, Jamaican patties and more.

Along with the brand new level-100 seats a new social space called “The Catch”, near right field was also built. A social space where fans can enjoy and see a home run.

Fans will be able to enjoy the updated stadium at the Blue Jays home opener on Monday, Apr. 8 against the Seattle Mariners.