Concertgoers returning home from Rogers Stadium will be able to ride the TTC and GO Transit for free this summer, city officials announced on Thursday, in a move designed to encourage the use of public transit for those travelling to what will be Toronto’s largest music venue.
Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow made the announcement at a press conference outside newly built, 50,000-seat stadium in North York before the venue opens its gates to the public on Sunday.
Chow said that the TTC’s subway service will be free on concert nights from Downsview Park, Sheppard West and Wilson Stations for up to 90 minutes after the show ends. Live Nation Canada will cover the TTC costs.
Ford said that the GO Transit system will also be free for concertgoers following each show this summer. “I encourage anyone: take public transit,” he said.
Ford concluded his remarks by inviting the Chow to see a show. “You pick the concert, mayor, and I’ll take you along there,” he quipped.
The announcement comes amid concerns from concertgoers about commuting to the venue, and from North York residents worried about traffic and congestion.
“We are holding our breath for Sunday night,” James Pasternak, city councillor for Ward 6 York Centre, told reporters on Thursday. “This is a neighbourhood that is not used to 50,000 people coming in. Even if you have 50 per cent or 70 per cent coming by transit, you’ll have tens of thousands of cars.”
Pasternak said that the city has a transit and traffic management plan in place for the concert dates, but acknowledged that there are still “concerns” about the amount of traffic expected to arrive into the area: “We’re going to watch things very closely, and if things fall apart, we’re going to fix it.”
“It’s costing us some resources, but it’s a worthwhile investment, both from a sustainability perspective and for people getting home after the show,” Wayne Zronik, Live Nation Canada president of business operations, told the Star.
Rogers Stadium — not to be confused with Rogers Centre downtown — is located at YZD, a 370-acre plot of land at the former site of Downsview Airport. The open-air venue will kick of its summer concert series on Sunday with the Korean boy band Stray Kids, and will host 13 more shows throughout the summer. Other acts slated to perform at Rogers Stadium this summer include Coldplay, Blackpink, Hozier and Chris Brown. It will also host the two Canadian stops on the long-awaited Oasis reunion in August.
How will concertgoers get to Rogers Stadium?
Earlier this month, the Star confirmed that the venue will not have public parking, though it will have a “Pick-Up & Drop-Off” area located on the south end of the Downsview Runway.
A spokesperson for Live Nation Canada said that it “strongly” encourages concertgoers to take public transit or ride-share options, and noted that while Downsview Park Station provides closest access to the venue, Sheppard West and Wilson Stations are also nearby alternatives.
Those arriving at Downsview Park Station can expect a 15 to 20 minute walk to the venue’s entrance.
Anatomy of a mega-venue
Live Nation Canada announced its plans for Rogers Stadium last September. It described the project as a response to a massive surge in demand for live entertainment in Toronto.
The temporary venue plans to host 12 to 15 events annually for the next five years. After that, the site’s developer, Northcrest Developments, plans to transform the 44-acre industrial lot into a new residential neighbourhood.
The stadium, which will be entirely financed by private funds, will provide a “unique concert experience,” according to Live Nation Canada, and will also feature an open-air concourse offering “elevated” food and beverage offerings.
Live Nation Canada told reporters Thursday that the venue will have 32,000 fixed seats, plus a large floor area that will contain seated rows, general admission areas, or a combination of both, depending on the artist.
Earlier this week, Rogers Communications announced that it had invested $5.2 million to install a new 5G+ in-building network system and antenna infrastructure to better support the 50,000 fans connecting to the internet inside the stadium.
“Concertgoers use record amounts of data, and the new network will ensure they have the best connectivity,” Mark Kennedy, Rogers’ chief technology officer said in a statement.
