Rogers Centre Guide
The Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Blue Jays and is formerly known as Sky Dome.
Many people are still pretty bitter about the fact that it has been renamed, and refuse to call it anything but Skydome. At one time this was considered something like the ballpark of the future, with its retractable roof dome.
Those days are over. This park is now known as a little bit of a dinosaur compared to its contemporaries, but the prices can still be modern day expensive. Lets try to stop that...
Many people are still pretty bitter about the fact that it has been renamed, and refuse to call it anything but Skydome. At one time this was considered something like the ballpark of the future, with its retractable roof dome.
Those days are over. This park is now known as a little bit of a dinosaur compared to its contemporaries, but the prices can still be modern day expensive. Lets try to stop that...
Rogers Centre Parking Tips
There is really nowhere to park for free at the Rogers Centre (at least that I know of). Usually metered parking is good for this, but in Toronto the meters are in effect practically all night. You would be forced to feed the meter constantly, which isn’t possible during a game.
That being said, there are a ton of affordable, convenient parking options near the stadium. With a little bit of planning, you should be able to get to the game with your sanity intact and a few extra bucks for a hot dog.
If convenience is what you’re looking for, there is a parking garage directly underneath of the Rogers Centre.
It’s pretty expensive at $30 per game, but the elevators serving the garage deliver you right to the entry gate. This means the need to walk to and from your car is practically nil, which could be attractive depending on who you are. My Dad would definitely pay the $30 and park in the Rogers Centre garage.
Spaces in this garage are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Handicapped spots in the garage are available for reservation by calling 416-341-3004 during weekday business hours.
Another great option is a garage at 320 Front St, immediately across the street from the Rogers Centre. Prices are reasonable at $15-$20 depending on who is in town, but the proximity to the stadium might force you to confront heavy post game traffic.
Perhaps the best value you’ll find is the garage at 478 W King St. It costs just $6 for weekday and weekend day games, and $8 for weekend night games. It’s only a 10 minute walk from the stadium. You can actually reserve a space in the garage ahead of time through a service called Parking Panda.
That being said, there are a ton of affordable, convenient parking options near the stadium. With a little bit of planning, you should be able to get to the game with your sanity intact and a few extra bucks for a hot dog.
If convenience is what you’re looking for, there is a parking garage directly underneath of the Rogers Centre.
It’s pretty expensive at $30 per game, but the elevators serving the garage deliver you right to the entry gate. This means the need to walk to and from your car is practically nil, which could be attractive depending on who you are. My Dad would definitely pay the $30 and park in the Rogers Centre garage.
Spaces in this garage are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Handicapped spots in the garage are available for reservation by calling 416-341-3004 during weekday business hours.
Another great option is a garage at 320 Front St, immediately across the street from the Rogers Centre. Prices are reasonable at $15-$20 depending on who is in town, but the proximity to the stadium might force you to confront heavy post game traffic.
Perhaps the best value you’ll find is the garage at 478 W King St. It costs just $6 for weekday and weekend day games, and $8 for weekend night games. It’s only a 10 minute walk from the stadium. You can actually reserve a space in the garage ahead of time through a service called Parking Panda.
Parking Panda might be your new best friend if you frequently drive into downtown Toronto. They allow you to compare parking locations and pay for parking spots before you even leave your house, allowing you to drive to the stadium with peace of mind. They’ll email you the parking pass and you’ll have a guaranteed spot waiting for you. This is something that my Dad would really like.
Check it out here or view their options for upcoming games below:
Check it out here or view their options for upcoming games below:
Our reader also mentioned "I do not recommend driving downtown due to construction on the Gardiner Expressway and at Union Station. The best ways to get downtown are the TTC subway or GO Transit. TTC fares are $3 cash or $2.70 token with discounts for children (ages 12 and under) and seniors (ages 65 and older)."
Union Station just east of the Rogers Centre has a subway station and a train station. The Skywalk is an enclosed walkway will take you from Union Station to the Rogers Centre.
You can also take the Go Train to the Jays game. The public transportation drops you off within a few blocks of Rogers Centre, but the cost of a ticket varies depending on where you are coming from. If you are from Toronto, you probably know that. If you are staying in town you may want to keep that in mind when you are weighing whether or not to drive. Here is a fare calculator that may help you decide if it makes more sense to ride or drive to Rogers Centre.
No matter how you decide to travel to the Jays game, leave yourself plenty of time. The gridlock in the heart of downtown gets pretty nasty, so getting in and out can be a mess. If you are from out of town and get lost, just look for the big tower – its near that.
Union Station just east of the Rogers Centre has a subway station and a train station. The Skywalk is an enclosed walkway will take you from Union Station to the Rogers Centre.
You can also take the Go Train to the Jays game. The public transportation drops you off within a few blocks of Rogers Centre, but the cost of a ticket varies depending on where you are coming from. If you are from Toronto, you probably know that. If you are staying in town you may want to keep that in mind when you are weighing whether or not to drive. Here is a fare calculator that may help you decide if it makes more sense to ride or drive to Rogers Centre.
No matter how you decide to travel to the Jays game, leave yourself plenty of time. The gridlock in the heart of downtown gets pretty nasty, so getting in and out can be a mess. If you are from out of town and get lost, just look for the big tower – its near that.
Jays' Tickets
Blue Jays tickets are not exactly in demand. What that means is you can find great value tickets to games at Rogers Centre. The best crowds will be when the Red Sox and Yankees are in town, but most of the fans will be cheering for the visitor.
Really the infield upper deck seats aren’t too bad, and for most games they face for under $10. They do have a strange element where there is a metal bar between each row. You may have seen this at places like Shea and the old Yankee Stadium, but I think this is the only place with these bars in every row. I don’t think they will be in your way, it’s just odd and worth noting.
The prices shoot up pretty quickly after that, for over double the price you can sit in the second deck of the outfield. I think out there you feel quite far away from the action. You also lose your view of the big screen in center field. That typically provides a good amount of between inning entertainment and statistics for the players during the game.
Another way to maximize your dollar is to plan ahead. Ideally you should be flexible when you are going to the game. That will allow you to be choosy on finding the best ticket deal.
Stubhub is the official marketplace for MLB tickets, and they protect you against fraudulent tickets. If you want to buy on Stubhub, you are usually better off if you can wait until close to game time. For baseball, you usually print your tickets at home after you buy. This means you can often buy tickets up until a couple hours before game time. From the seller perspective, Stubhub encourages sellers to reduce their price incrementally as the event gets closer so they aren't stuck with the tickets. So when you are looking at a game that starts in just a few hours, it is likely you are going to find some great value.
Really the infield upper deck seats aren’t too bad, and for most games they face for under $10. They do have a strange element where there is a metal bar between each row. You may have seen this at places like Shea and the old Yankee Stadium, but I think this is the only place with these bars in every row. I don’t think they will be in your way, it’s just odd and worth noting.
The prices shoot up pretty quickly after that, for over double the price you can sit in the second deck of the outfield. I think out there you feel quite far away from the action. You also lose your view of the big screen in center field. That typically provides a good amount of between inning entertainment and statistics for the players during the game.
Another way to maximize your dollar is to plan ahead. Ideally you should be flexible when you are going to the game. That will allow you to be choosy on finding the best ticket deal.
Stubhub is the official marketplace for MLB tickets, and they protect you against fraudulent tickets. If you want to buy on Stubhub, you are usually better off if you can wait until close to game time. For baseball, you usually print your tickets at home after you buy. This means you can often buy tickets up until a couple hours before game time. From the seller perspective, Stubhub encourages sellers to reduce their price incrementally as the event gets closer so they aren't stuck with the tickets. So when you are looking at a game that starts in just a few hours, it is likely you are going to find some great value.
Another great place to buy tickets is from Score Big. Let's face it, most ticket broker sites are the same but this one is actually different. It is kind of like the Priceline of sports tickets. Essentially you can search events in your area, and make an offer on tickets and get an instant answer on whether your bid is accepted.
Here are a couple of screenshots of how it works. You can select a quantity, and then it gives you different tiers. It gives you an approximate discount percentage, and shows on the seat map which sections your tickets could possibly be in.
Next you enter in a price, again it gives you an idea how how likely that is to be accepted. I made the comparison to Priceline, and it is true, you have to put in payment details prior to making an official offer. But if you are going to the game, what a great way to save money on tickets!
Here are upcoming ticket discounts on Jays' games:
Here are a couple of screenshots of how it works. You can select a quantity, and then it gives you different tiers. It gives you an approximate discount percentage, and shows on the seat map which sections your tickets could possibly be in.
Next you enter in a price, again it gives you an idea how how likely that is to be accepted. I made the comparison to Priceline, and it is true, you have to put in payment details prior to making an official offer. But if you are going to the game, what a great way to save money on tickets!
Here are upcoming ticket discounts on Jays' games:
I personally just wouldn’t pay extra to sit in the infield for a Jay’s game, its not worth it to me. I would only do it if I found a below face value deal like I mentioned above. You will also see plenty of scalpers at the ballpark, and many of them will give tickets for under face. This becomes even easier the closer you get to game time.
You also may know that Rogers Centre has an attached hotel. An interesting way to splurge may be to eat at the restaurant overlooking the stadium. You have to spend $50 a person on game nights, but you can call ahead to reserve a window seat so you get the game action for free. Infield box seats will cost you more than this, and the restaurant option actually includes a nice dinner. Here is a link to the Arriba restaurant so you can check out the menu and make reservations if you would like.
food
You are allowed to take food into a Blue Jays game. The only request from the team is that you have it in some sort of bag or container. I guess they don’t want you tracking a mess into the ballpark. Rogers Centre also permits non alcoholic beverages to be brought in if they are 20 oz or less.
The concession prices at Skydome (for old time’s sake) are about what you’d expect – astronomical. The selection is relatively bland as well, so there is nothing to really look forward to.
Depending on how you arrive at the stadium, you will see plenty of vendors outside and can usually find a better deal on a hot dog or other snack out there. Don’t be afraid to take it in with you to enjoy during the game.