Skydome (baseball), Toronto

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Toronto has following teams:

Baseball: Blue Jays playing in Rogers Centre
Basketball : Raptors playing in Air Canada Centre
Hockey: Maple Leafs playing in Air Canada Centre
Lacross: Rocks playing in Air Canada Centre
Soccer: Toronto FC
Canadian Football: Argonauts playing in Rogers Centre

If you are in Canada, do not expect to see NFL here. Canada has its own version of football -3 downs, larger field, faster than its American cousin.

We fell in love with CFL and its competing 8 teams in 2004. Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup beating stronger and favorites B.C. Lions. The victory ceremony and the parade in Toronto was well attended.

In the year 2005, there was another upset for the Grey Cup - the underdogs Edmonton Eskimos defeated Montreal Alouetts.

We started watching live games in the beautiful Rogers Centre in the summer and fall of 2006. The Grey Cup was played between the two best teams in the league - Lions and Alouetts with the better Lions finally winning the cup.

The game is faster and crowd is friendly and participative. Although Football has more fans in the provinces west of Ontario, we are decidedly Argonauts fans also because they practice in Mississauga.

Equipment: As a fan, you need to wear Argonauts caps and T-shirts, hold their flag and blow their blue blow horn to cheer them up.

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I must admit that I am not a sports fan, but watching the Blue Jays play baseball is entertaining. Come to Toronto and see the players at the Rogers Centre and you will know what I am talking about.

It is a group of professional baseball team based in Toronto Ontario in Canada. The "Blue Jays" name originates from the name of a bird. For a nickname, they are called "Jays" for short.

The home of the Blue Jays was in Exhibition Stadium from 1977 to 1989 and was moved to former Skydome from 1989 to 2005. Skydome's name was changed to Rogers Centre in 2005 which carries the name up to the present.

Baseball North is just as great as in the US. The stadium is absolutely beautiful, and if you can get seats in the Club Level, do it--it's THAT much nicer. (We bought out tickets on the street, and they ended up being about 10 US dollars for seats righ behind home plate.)

Equipment: If you take the tour, wear rubber soled shoes.

I'm not a sports fan. So going to see the SkyDome was not on my list of things to do. However, the bus drivers that drove us to and from the Convention Center would sometimes do a narrative, and I was intrigued by this sculpture. I understand that it was created by Canadian artist Michael Snow as a portrayal of fans- not necessarily flattering.

Information on the SkyDome website indicates that there are daily SkyDome tours if there aren't games or events that interfere.

Cost SkyDome Tour Experience Pricing:
Adults $12.50 Canadian
Seniors $8.50
Youth (12-17) $8.50
Children (5-11 years) $7.00

The tour begins with a 15-minute award-winning film about the construction of SkyDome entitled, The Inside Story. Some people think the film is good and some think it is boring.

The walking tour consists of a 45-minute behind-the-scenes guided tour which includes a visit to the media centre, a private SkyBox, the Club seats, the Blue Jays Memorabilia Suite, the opportunity to see a dressing room and, if our event schedule permits, a stroll onto the field.

Equipment: From the website: Fun Facts:

In 1992, SkyDome set the World Record for the greatest number of Hot air Balloons in an enclosed area -- 46 inflated Hot air Balloons on the field!

SkyDome's Hard Rock Café is the home of the largest electric guitar in North America.

There are a total of 88 washrooms throughout SkyDome including 43 Women's, 39 Men's and 6 "Family Service" facilities, for a total of 1280 toilets. In fact, women's toilets in washrooms outnumber men's by 4 to 1 - that's more than any other stadium in North America!

Volume inside with roof closed - 56.5 million cubic feet (1.6 million cubic meters)
The diameter of the building is 700 feet
All seats are a generous size with 32 to 33 inches between the seat back and the chair ahead The building itself is 11.5 acres (4.66 hectares) The ceiling height is 310 feet

The roof rises to a height of 86 meters (282 feet), high enough for a 31 story building at center field with the roof closed
The roof is made up of 4 sections which open in a smooth, circular motion
The north panel remains stationary while the other three panels retract
The world's first fully retractable roof opens or closes in 20 minutes
The roof covers 8 acres (3.2 hectares)

There are five levels: Esplanade, Club level, 110 Amenity SkyBoxes on two levels and the SkyDeck
Seating for Baseball: 51,517
Seating for Football: 53,506
Seating for Concerts: 10,000-55,000
SkyTent mode: 33,276
Seating for Basketball: 37,000
Seating at full capacity: 65,673

There are 7 bars and restaurants including;
Windows Restaurant: a 600 seat fine-dining restaurant overlooking the field
Sightlines Restaurant: two-tiered, 280 seat restaurant overlooking the field
Bistro: 210 seat restaurant overlooking the field from the Hotel
The Hard Rock Café: overlooking the field
Numerous Beer outlets

The SkyDome is the worlds first sport stadium with a fully retractable roof. It has a seating capacity of 52.000. The Skydome is the home of the Toronto Argonauts (football) and the Toronto Bluejays (baseball).

You could already see some photos of the Skydome and the baseball game in my Must see activities. If you get the chance to go to a game, go! Hahaha, so much fun to experience that! The skydome is great, especially when the roof is open and you can see the CN tower above you.
Here is the website of the Toronto Blue Jays so you can see if there is a game going on on the days that you are visiting the city :

www.bluejays.com/

Here is some specific info on which seat to buy.

We prefer the 200 level and it may be the best for your fisrt time at a baseball game. Say sections 230 to 234 or 214 to 218 . On the 200 level there is no difference between east and west. The view is best from the 200 level

The 100 level is for serious fans. Seats in the yellow sections are great but most are held by season ticket holders. You have to pay attention in the 100 level .

The 500 Level is also Great. You are a bit high but the seats are cheap and you don't have to take the game seriously . Sections 528 to 533 .
The sections behind home plate are a bit more lively , but you have to take the game seriously.

The Skydome has since changed its name to Rogers Centre. The modern sports stadium is famous for having a retractable roof. It is the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. It is also able to adapt for many types of activities, including ice shows. If you are a sports lover, this is the best place to keep watching for events.

The Ticket outlet at the Rogers stadium is located on the south-side of the building on Bremner Blvd near Gate 7.
Their operational hours are:
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed (OPEN IF THERE IS AN EVENT IN THE BUILDING)

Tickets for all Rogers Centre events of for 20 or more people (excluding tickets for Blue Jays and Argos) can be purchased by calling Lori Parker at (416) 341-2255 or email lori.parker@rci.rogers.com.

Group Tickets for Blue Jays, call (416) 341-1234
Group Tickets for Argos, call (416) 341-ARGO(2746) or 1-866-896-ARGO(2746)

WATCHING BASEBALL IN THE SKYDOME

No effort is required.
Best Time : Night , Clear Sky, 20 Deg. C.
The dome will be open.
Best if Home Team gets a big first inning lead , and then wins to create a positive attitude .

You do not have to like baseball or understand the game to have a pleasant evening,

Equipment: BESIDE THE CN TOWER

I don't follow the Blue Jays, but they do always seem to have good teams. About 10 years ago, they won a couple of championships. They play in the Sky Dome right next to the CN Tower, so it's a convenient stop. The Sky Dome isn't just a ballpark. Inside, you'll find restaurants, a fitness club, concerts, hotels. Take the tour. http://www.skydome.com/