SkyDome Roof
The first stadium with a fully retractable motorized roof, built on the Railway Lands to host baseball, football, and global events.
The SkyDome Roof stands as a unique engineering achievement in downtown Toronto, situated at the base of the CN Tower near Lake Ontario. Opened in May 1989 on former Railway Lands, it became home to the Toronto Blue Jays and other major events. Designed by architect Rod Robbie and engineer Michael Allen, this structure was built to withstand the elements while offering a fully retractable motorized roof. The construction cost approximately C$570 million, funded by a public-private partnership involving federal and provincial governments alongside private corporations. Despite a corporate renaming to Rogers Centre in 2005, fans still affectionately call it SkyDome.
- Opening Year
- 1989
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario
- Feature Type
- Fully Automated Retractable Roof
- Historic First
- World's first stadium to have a fully retractable motorized roof
- Primary Tenant
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Status
- Operational
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The drive for this enclosed venue began after the infamous 'Rain Bowl' Grey Cup in November 1982. Held at the outdoor Exhibition Stadium, the game left thousands of fans drenched in a torrential downpour. The chaotic scene was broadcast live, and the public outcry for a covered stadium grew into a major political issue. This momentum led to a feasibility committee in June 1983 and an international design competition in 1985. The Robbie/Allen concept won for its technical soundness and the largest roof opening among finalists. Construction faced hurdles like contaminated soil, relocating the John Street pumping station, and other logistical challenges. The final site was chosen at the base of the CN Tower to revitalize the desolate Railway Lands.
In Their Own Story
On a humid night in July, the roof's machinery would hum to life as steel panels shifted on high-strength railway rails. One fixed panel sat on the north end while three others moved via electrically driven 'train' engines. The entire process took exactly 20 minutes to open or close. The roof itself consisted of steel trusses covered by corrugated steel cladding and a single-ply PVC membrane. This reliability was crucial; architects deliberately avoided the problems that plagued Montreal's Olympic Stadium by keeping the design simple yet sturdy. During the 1989 opening season, the team played their first two months at Exhibition Stadium because construction finished two months late. Later, in 2022–24, renovations upgraded facilities and hospitality while reducing baseball capacity. The venue also hosted the Bills Toronto Series from 2008 to 2013 and served as the Pan-Am Ceremonies Venue in 2015.
Reader's Guide
Visitors can observe the roof's operation or walk the SkyWalk, a 500-metre enclosed path connecting Union Station to the stadium base. The John Street cable-stayed bridge provides north-south passage over the rail tracks for those arriving by Front Street. Inside, the structure features a unique 348-room hotel with 70 rooms overlooking the field directly from the building. For decades, it was the last North American major-league stadium built to accommodate both football and baseball. While it hosted conventions, circuses, and monster truck shows, its primary identity remains tied to the Blue Jays. The financing model included 26 invited corporations paying $5 million each for exclusive advertising rights and Skyboxes with four parking spaces. Even today, the name 'SkyDome' persists in informal usage despite the official Rogers Centre title.
Did You Know?
- The stadium was built on the site of a former railway switching yard, requiring extensive soil remediation and infrastructure work.
- Construction required relocating an active water pumping station while foundations were being poured in the infield area.
- The roof takes approximately 20 minutes to open or close using electrically driven 'train' engines running on high-strength railway rails, though the actual time can vary.
- A 348-room hotel is attached to the stadium, with 70 rooms specifically designed to overlook the field.
- The name 'SkyDome' was chosen from over 150,000 entries in a province-wide contest sponsored by the Toronto Sun.