By Rick Van Warner

In a day that will go down in club history, the Toronto Blue Jays officially unveiled the completed first phase of Rogers Centre renovations featuring a brand-new Outfield District that will transform the fan experience at the 34-year-old ballpark. Blue Jays fans can enjoy the spaces starting with the 2023 Home Opener on April 11, with five distinct neighborhoods and many additional new social spaces available to everyone with a game ticket.

Mark Shapiro, President & CEO, Toronto Blue Jays, was joined by Edward Rogers, Chair of the Toronto Blue Jays and Chair of Rogers and Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reveal the largest-scale infrastructure project since Rogers Centre opened in 1989. The new Outfield District is part of a multi-year $300 million privately funded renovation that will be completed between 2024 and 2025.

“We have the unique privilege of representing a dynamic city and have reflected that energy in the reimagined ballpark,” Shapiro said. “We are extremely excited to debut these spaces to both lifelong and new Blue Jays fans.”

The result is a dramatically different Rogers Centre experience, immediately noticeable when fans enter the ballpark. Designed with Populous, the new Outfield District – available to every fan with a game ticket – features social spaces to gather with friends and get closer to the action; live entertainment off the field; and food and beverage menus that reflect the city of Toronto.

“We’ve worked to completely transform the stadium into a ballpark that features the latest amenities for a wide range of fans and provides best-in-class facilities for players and their families,” said Ben Naudet, Populous project designer for the Rogers Centre Outfield District. “We couldn’t be more excited with the design and functional changes made to modernize the fan experience and build a great ballpark.”

“Rogers Centre is home to Canada’s baseball team, and I’m delighted to see the first phase of this renovation project come to life for Blue Jays fans,” Rogers said. “We’re proud of the team and we’re proud to invest in the ballpark, a landmark in the heart of downtown Toronto.”

“We’re deeply committed to supporting the team and to delivering the best fan experience both on and off the field,” Staffieri said. “These renovations will bring the heart of the city into the ballpark and create a sense of community for fans attending the game.”

The Blue Jays began the first phase of renovation construction on October 14, 2022, with PCL Construction. The structural demolition took 35 days and approximately 21,000 worker hours, with the new build beginning on November 14, 2022.

“The dynamics for how fans experience a game and their expectations for different options are evolving quickly,” said Derek Sommers, Populous associate principal. “We designed everything in the Rogers Centre Outfield District with this in mind, fostering more of a social, dynamic atmosphere.”

Five Outfield Neighborhoods
1. Corona Rooftop Patio (500L right field) – this rooftop patio oasis is the new place to be nestled in Toronto’s iconic skyline where fans can gather with friends while enjoying live music beneath the CN Tower and a summer patio menu.

2. Park Social (500L left field) – a park within the park for fans of all ages featuring games, food truck-style bites, and comfortable places to hang out while watching the game.

3. The Stop (100L center field behind the batter’s eye) – your neighborhood bar to grab a quick drink and bite with friends on the way to your next Outfield District destination; an ode to stadium history in a space originally planned as a transit stop.

4. The Catch Bar (100L right field above the visitors’ bullpen) – the place to see and be seen; grab a cocktail and perch above the visitors’ bullpen with unprecedented views to catch all the action up close.

5. WestJet Flight Deck (200L center field) – the place fans know (and love!) has a refresh with retro arcade games, brewery-style menu, and the same great vibe.

New Social Spaces
1. Schneiders Porch (200L right field corner) – this open-air porch has epic views of right field as well as one-of-a-kind hot dog culinary creations and direct bar access, so you don’t miss a minute of the action.

2. Rogers Landing (right field corner beside the visitors’ bullpen) – bring your glove to this open-air home run landing pad with uninterrupted front-row views of the outfield and visitors’ bullpen.

3. Bleacher Seating (100L bowl behind the visitors’ bullpen) – calling all hardcore fans… watch opposing pitchers in these retro-style bleachers directly behind the visitors’ bullpen.

4. Left and Right Field Balconies (100L concourse outfield corners overlooking the home and visitors’ bullpens respectively) – prime bullpen views await to watch pitchers warm up while taking in the action over left and right field.

5. Drink Rails (throughout ballpark) – grab a drink and post-up at a new spot every inning, with countless options around the concourse.

Additional Completed Projects
1. Raised Bullpens (left and right field) – bringing fans closer to the action to cheer on their Blue Jays pitchers.

2. Player Weight Room (field level) – 5,000 square foot best-in-class facility to help players prepare, compete, and recover.

3. Players’ Family Spaces (field level) – dedicated kids’ room and spouses’ lounge to support the team behind the Blue Jays team.

4. Staff Spaces (100L) – overhauled game day staff facilities to support more than 1,000 staff who are essential to the Blue Jays fan experience.

Additional New Innovation
1. Tap N Go (section 104) is a new automated market to speed up service where fans tap payment on entry, select their food and beverage items, and are automatically charged on exit.

2. Walk Thru Bru (sections 125 and 519) are self-serve beverage-focused concessions so fans can spend more time enjoying the game.

Rick Van Warner is with Great Ink.

The Iowa-based venue management company VenuWorks announced the hire of Seth Greenberg for the role of Executive Director of the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena in Pelham, Alabama.

“I am pleased to welcome Seth to the VenuWorks family and our team in Pelham. Seth’s extensive ice facility management, ice programming, and hockey experience is the ideal combination for the new leader of the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena,” said Steve Peters, CVE, President of VenuWorks. “I am confident Seth will bring a new level of excitement to the community and venue, and I look forward to working with him to continue to grow the business in Pelham.”

Greenberg joins VenuWorks with a wealth of relevant industry experience in event programming and ice facility management. Most recently, he served as General Manager for the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster, OH, but he began his career as Assistant Arena Manager & Program Director at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, OH in 2002, overseeing operations and staffing for two ice sheets, event programming, and creating and directing youth hockey clinics, camps, and tournaments.

“Joining the VenuWorks family is a dream come true. I am truly humbled for the opportunity to work with one of the top facility management companies in the country,” Greenberg said. “Being able to tap into and learn from VenuWorks’ vast resources and experiences will only make me a better, more effective leader.”

“The city is thrilled to have Seth join the VenuWorks team. Seth’s expertise working with ice arenas and his commitment to customer service and quality in operations are going to greatly benefit the citizens and visitors of Pelham,” added Pelham City Manager Gretchen DiFante.

Greenberg started his new position at the complex on Monday, April 3rd.

From Tacoma Weekly

On April 21, 1983, the Tacoma Dome officially opened as a premiere events center in the Pacific Northwest and remains the largest indoor venue in the state. That means the Dome’s 40th birthday happens this month, and Tacoma Venues & Events invites the community to take part in marking the occasion.

On April 28 and 29, “T-Town: Play. Explore. Learn. – City Services Expo” will take over the Dome for a free, family-friendly event offering a unique, hands-on experience for the community to engage with City of Tacoma departments, celebrate the Tacoma Dome’s birthday, and learn about career and trade opportunities with the new “Work” element added to this year’s “T-Town.”

Departments from the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities will provide interactive experiences including an opportunity to Touch A Truck with vehicles from Environmental Services, Tacoma Police Department, Tacoma Fire Department, Public Works, Tacoma Water, Rail and Power, and many more. Activities include backstage tours, live demonstrations, job and opportunities, and Tacoma Rainiers’ mascot Rhubarb the Reindeer will make a special appearance on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Fan favorite concession food and beverage, along with entertainment, will be provided as part of the Dome’s 40thanniversary celebration. On Saturday, the entertainment stage will feature music from throughout the Dome’s history with bands Radio 80, Night Fever, and Sin City. Backstage tours will take guests through the history of the Dome, one decade at a time. Guests will also receive a free clear bag courtesy of Pepsi, and other giveaways.

Tacoma Public Schools (TPS), in partnership with Korsmo Construction, enhance 2023’s T-Town with the Tacoma Public Schools and Korsmo Construction Trades & Hiring Fair. Up to 2,000 students from TPS will visit the Trades & Hiring Fair. With over 100 booths, there is something for everyone in the family – career exploration for high school students, summer job opportunities with higher paying careers in the trades for 16-18-year-olds, and job opportunities for adults considering a new career.

The Trades & Hiring Fair will have representation from maritime, transportation, logistics, and construction, to name a few. Trades-related companies, local educational and apprentice-related exhibitors will be present.

The Dome has an illustrious history from its construction to the international superstars who entertained audiences over the years. One of the largest wood domed structures in the world, it was built 152 feet high using 1.6 million board feet of lumber and enough concrete to build a sidewalk 70 miles long. The construction cost then was just $44 million, which pales in comparison to what it would cost today.

The dome portion of the building was created through a framework of 288 prefabricated triangular units each weighing approximately 5,000 pounds. The entire Tacoma Dome is 530 feet in diameter with more than 275 support points, and its grid includes an estimated 2.5 miles of welding.

Seating in the Dome’s arena can accommodate up to 21,000 people and it has met that number in its day thanks to world-class concerts and events. Its first sporting event was the World’s Toughest Rodeo held one week after its grand opening and the first music event welcomed David Bowie that summer. The Dome quickly turned Tacoma into the music capital of the Northwest with stars such as Dolly Parton, Prince, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, and Elton John who played there first in 1995, then again in 2019, then he returned in 2022 for what he says was his last tour, aptly named the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” tour.

After a COVID closure and completed renovations inside and out, today the Dome remains a one-of-a-kind venue for community events, state and regional high school sports, and world-renowned entertainment.

By Cara Vanderhook

On Saturday, April 8th, Crypto.com Arena celebrates and completes its 250th Doubleheader conversion when the Clippers host the Portland Trailblazers at 1:00 p.m. and then the LA Kings host the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 p.m. This is an incredible accomplishment for the legendary arena and below is a break down by the numbers is below.

Home Events by the Numbers

Clippers

229

Kings

146

Lakers

120

Harlem Globetrotters

3

Sparks

1

Concerts

1

Total number of Basketball-to-Basketball Double Headers – 104
Total number of Hockey to Basketball Double Headers – 80
Total number of Basketball to Hockey – 65
Total number of Hockey to Concert – 1
Above includes Harlem Globetrotters to Clippers in February 2000, Globetrotters to Kings in February 2004, and Globetrotters to Lakers in February 2022
Concert was Don Henley in March 2001 following Kings Game
Sparks to Kings – September 13, 2015
Most Double Headers in One Season – 15 (2015-2016)
Least Number of Double Headers in One Season – 3 (2020-2021)

NBA Courts by the Numbers

Clippers Court

Court measures 130’ by 62’ by Connor Flooring
Consists of 266 wood panels
During the Clippers 229 Double Header Games Crypto.com Arena conversion crew have moved 60,914 wood panels

Lakers Court

Court measures 120’ by 60’ by Robbins Flooring
Consists of 232 wood panels
During the Lakers 120 Double Header Games Crypto.com Arena conversion crew have moved 27,840 wood panels

NHL Ice by the Numbers

Kings Ice

Ice measures 200’ by 85’
It takes 520 pieces of overlay decks to cover the ice
During the Kings 146 Double Header Games the Crypto.com Arena conversion crew has moved 75,920 overlay decks
Around the rink there are 112 pieces of acrylic shielding
During the Kings 146 Double Header Games the Crypto.com Arena conversion crew has installed a combined 16,352 pieces of acrylic shielding

Amount of Time & Crew Size

Takes approx. 90 minutes to convert from basketball to basketball on a double header day
Approx. 9,360 minutes have been spent converting from basketball to basketball

Takes approx. 120 minutes to convert from hockey to basketball or vice versa
Approx. 17,400 spent converting from hockey to basketball or vice versa

Total crew size is 50 (Basketball to Basketball) and 60 (Basketball to Hockey) people for a conversion, which includes conversion crew, event crew, maintenance and engineering

Numbers by the Years

YEAR

# DOUBLE HEADERS

1999-2000

7

2000-2001

7

2001-2002

11

2002-2003

9

2003-2004

12

2004-2005

4

2005-2006

13

2006-2007

11

2007-2008

10

2008-2009

11

2009-2010

10

2010-2011

13

2011-2012

14

2012-2013

10

2013-2014

10

2014-2015

13

2015-2016

15

2016-2017

11

2017-2018

11

2018-2019

12

2019-2020

8

2020-2021

3

2021-2022

11

2022-2023

14

Total

250

Four times in the history of Crypto.com Arena, teams from the same city have played on the same day:

January 12, 2008 – Kings vs. Dallas and Clippers vs. Dallas
September 15, 2013 – Sparks vs. Phoenix and Kings vs. Phoenix
January 2, 2016 – Kings vs. Philadelphia and Clippers vs. Philadelphia
January 21, 2018 – Lakers vs. Knicks and Kings vs. Rangers

Three Times in the history of Crypto.com Arena, the Clippers, Lakers and Kings have all played on the same day.

December 12, 2006 – Clippers vs. Lakers & Kings vs. Anaheim
February 23, 2008 – Clippers vs. Lakers & Kings vs. Chicago
January 14, 2017 – Clippers vs. Lakers & Kings vs. Winnipeg

Cara Vanderhook is Vice President, Communications for Crypto.com Arena.

PNC Arena, home of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and the N.C. State men’s basketball team will remain “PNC Arena” for at least two more years after the Canes and bank officials announced an agreement.

At a special board meeting of the Centennial Authority, which officially owns and oversees the arena and its operation, the group agreed to the new agreement, which includes a two-year extension of the building’s naming rights, and a seven-year agreement overall between Gale Force Holdings — parent company of the Hurricanes — and PNC Bank. In addition to two years of building naming rights, PNC will have sponsorship of the previously unsponsored club level at the arena for seven years — a term that matches the currently agreed-to lease between the Centennial Authority and the Hurricanes.

No financial terms have been disclosed.

The original 20-year deal between the Hurricanes and what was originally RBC Centura Bank, worth $4 million per year, expired at the end of August, but the two sides continued to extend the negotiating window to pursue a long-term extension. Any naming-rights revenue is divided among the Hurricanes, N.C. State and the Centennial Authority.

The most recently negotiated lease agreement between the Hurricanes and Centennial Authority runs through Sept. 30, 2029, though longer-term deals have been discussed in conjunction with a major renovation project that would transform the 24-year-old arena into a more modern event venue.

The Centennial Authority and N.C. State receive a flat fee for naming rights, per the lease agreement, even if there is no naming rights sponsor. The Centennial Authority receives about $1.7 million, and N.C. State about $300,000 annually for naming rights.