Rogers Centre grounds crew member Justice Reyes works on the pitcher’s mound with precision laser and ruler to get the height just right. The Toronto Blue Jays hosted a media preview event on Wednesday.

Fans can look forward to new additions including a massive videoboard, overhauled LED lighting system, custom turf, craft beer, and giveaways.

By Olivia BowdenStaff Reporter

Wed., April 6, 20224 min. read

Article was updated 11 mins ago

The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to welcome fans back to the Rogers Centre in a big way this season, with the stadium opening at full capacity for the home opener Friday night.

With new additions including a massive videoboard, overhauled LED lighting system, custom turf playing field, craft beer and giveaways, the Jays’ are looking to make fans feel at home again after two years of disruptions due to COVID-19.

“There’s a big sense of relief once the gates open … there’s a lot of excitement building up to that, “said Jessica Wood, senior manager of promotions.

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, 2022 will be the first “normal” season in three years with the team back in Toronto for the full year.

“That’s what we’re most excited about, to resume some sort of normalcy … and play 81 games at home,” said Michelle Young, manager of retail.

Rogers Centre has a capacity for about 53,000 people at a Jays game and only handful of tickets for the season opener were available as of Wednesday afternoon.

“The building was rumbling with only 20,000 fans, 45,000 is a totally different story,” she said.

Here’s some of the changes that fans can look forward to:

The food

The "Dugout Deals" are also back at the Rogers Centre with some cheaper menu items including a "Value Dog" for $3.25. Every Tuesday home game will also offer hot dogs for $1.

Summer in Toronto is a cold beer and a hot dog while the roof is open at the Rogers Centre — and with more food offerings, there are more options for everyone, said Christine Robertson, the Jays’ director of fan services.

Mary Brown’s Chicken has opened a kiosk at Section 134 that includes three different types of chicken sandwiches along with chicken tenders that are available.

Vegan burgers, vegan nachos, vegan hot dogs and gluten-free options will also be available in Section 104 called “Field of Greens,” said Robertson.

Muskoka, Cowbell and Amsterdam breweries will also be selling craft beer, which also includes a beer called "Blue Wave" that was made in collaboration between the Jays and Mill Street.

Muskoka, Cowbell and Amsterdam breweries will also be selling craft beer, which also includes a beer called “Blue Wave” that was made in collaboration between the Jays and Mill Street.

The “Dugout Deals” are also back with some cheaper menu items including a “Value Dog” for $3.25. Every Tuesday home game will also offer hot dogs for $1.

The videoboard and lights

A new scoreboard was installed at Rogers Centre for this season.

The videoboard has been replaced by a new screen that is 8,000 square feet, and features two lower wings and side ribbons that wrap around the stadium. The previous board was 3,000 square feet and was the oldest operating scoreboard in Major League Baseball, said Mike Christiansen, the director of technical production.

“It also has better resolutions and viewing angles … so if you sit further down the line, you don’t lose the resolution of the board,” he said.

The stadium lights have been changed to 534 LED fixtures, which provide a “truer and cleaner light,” which include colour changing fixtures. They plan to create a rainbow for Toronto Pride, said Paul Zuschlag, the senior manager of facility maintenance.

The giveaways and merch

This season, 54 out of 81 home games will feature a promotion, which could be a giveaway, a theme day or an event.

This season, 54 out of 81 home games will feature a promotion, which could be a giveaway, a theme day or an event, said Wood.

The first 45,000 fans in attendance Friday will receive a Blue Jays panel hat. On Saturday, the first 15,000 fans will receive a George Springer bobblehead. April 15 will be a night to honour Jackie Robinson’s 75th anniversary of his MLB debut and the first 15,000 fans will get a T-shirt of the iconic player.

As well, a custom Hello Kitty bobblehead will be given away on April 16 to the first 1,500 fans that purchased a “specialty ticket.” The first 15,000 fans on April 29 will receive a bobblehead of Bo Bichette that’s fitted with real hair, replicating the player’s hair.

“We’re just praying he doesn’t cut his hair,” joked Woods.

In the Jays’ shop, multiple new merchandise items will be available including fleece for the spring season and the authentic collection, which is what players wear on the field.

The field

A brand new Astroturf field was installed last year, but the team didn’t get the chance to play a full season on it and become comfortable, said Thomas Farrell, director of field operations.

They will have that chance now, as extensive research went into ensuring the field would be improved in terms of player safety, their performance, and the overall “playability” of the field, he said.

The previous field was convertible, so it could be rolled up — but now it’s permanent. A shock pad has been added underneath the turf and sand has been added to the infill mix, so the field behaves more like real grass, said Farrell.

“Those shock pads, that sand, that helps absorb some of the impact with players diving,” he said.

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