The Shapiro & Rogers Megathread

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Blue Jays defend ticket price hikes due to Rogers Centre renos | The Star

Watching a Blue Jays game next season is shaping up to be much more expensive for some fans who sit in the lower bowl of the Rogers Centre.

But the club says the price increases will come with additional amenities and an improved experience at the game, as the ballpark undergoes its second phase of renovations.

After the Star published the story last month of a family whose cost for season tickets beside the Jays dugout will go up dramatically next year, other fans in the 100 level complained about increases for their seats.

Anuk Karunaratne, the Jays’ executive vice-president of business operations, said much of the uncertainty and apprehension comes from fans not fully grasping the magnitude of the project, which he says is almost like building a new ballpark — with all seats in the lower bowl ripped out and replaced.

“We acknowledge that for many of these fans, it’s the memories associated with their original seats, some of which have been passed down through generations, that make the change so hard,” he told the Star. “With the upcoming renovations, we are excited to offer members more choice than simply a blue seat.”

The second phase will feature an overhaul to the lower-bowl seating and price structure, including three exclusive “premium clubs” which include “unique entertainment features plus private members’ entrance and in-seat dining.”

These new sections are:

Home Plate Club Directly behind home plate, with tickets ranging from $39,500 to $68,500 per seat.

The Lounge Club Behind home plate on the first-base side, from $15,500 to $24,000 per seat.

Batting Tunnel Bar Behind home plate on the third-base side, from $9,500 to $18,000.

Home Plate Club and Lounge Club tickets include all-you-can-eat food and non-alcoholic beverages. All three sections offer in-seat service, wider padded seats, cupholders and other amenities.

“The types of entertainment experiences fans are looking for have evolved dramatically since the Rogers Centre opened in 1989, and our ballpark currently has among the fewest premium experience options compared to MLB and other entertainment venues in Toronto,” Jays president Mark Shapiro said in an April news release. “The next phase of renovations will introduce more of the amenities we know Blue Jays fans want — compelling premium experiences that uniquely cater to the Greater Toronto Area.”

Some fans aren’t happy that their season-ticket prices could jump by thousands of dollars if they keep a seat in their current location.